Communication barriers

All the information we receive when communicating, we perceive, based on our experience, existing attitudes, and through the prism of our subjective attitude to the interlocutor. And often we hear quite differently from what our partner tried to convey to us. Often it is impossible to accurately express one's thought, and at all because of overwhelming emotions. Such barriers, leading to misunderstandings and making communication impossible for benefit and pleasure, are barriers to communication.

Types of barriers

There are many categories and signs on which it is possible to classify barriers of communication. We will not consider in detail the existing classifications, but only name and explain the most common types.

1. The perception barriers

These are such barriers of communication as the barrier of speech, the first impression and many others. To be understood, you need to be able to clearly state your point of view. Words, especially in business communication, should be logically justified, and the manner of speaking is sure. The better the speaker has his own emotions, the more likely that he will be able to convey what he wants to say. In addition, the features of diction can both spoil the impression of any carefully prepared speech, and seriously interfere with its understanding. And if both interlocutors are interested in communication, one will have to adapt to the peculiarities of speech, and the second should think about working on a problematic aspect (rhetoric classes, auto-training, work with a speech therapist).

Often barriers of communication arise and as a result of the first impression (usually formed from non-verbal signals), when effective communication is prevented by an unreasonable negative attitude to the interlocutor. You may well be disliked by certain external features of the business partner, but you should be aware that this should not affect the subject of your discussion.

An important influence is also exerted on existing installations that distort the perception of information. We have different value systems and put different meanings in the same words. If you know about the existing differences between you and the interlocutor and can take them into account (that is, use understandable for another person and the most accurate words), the barriers to communication will be partially overcome.

Separately, we can also mention such a difficult communication quality, as inability to listen, as well as the inherent filtering of each heard: we hear what we want to hear.

2. Interaction barriers

These are psychological barriers in communication, which are associated with different motivations, different moral positions, level of competence and style to negotiate. So, it is difficult to interact with a person who expects a completely different result from communicating with you. And if one is set up to solve a particular problem, and another is on an idle conversation, the conversation may not satisfy both. In such cases, it is expedient to immediately identify your tasks.

It is equally difficult to find a common language with someone whose level of competence in a specific issue is significantly different, which can be very annoying or cause an excuse for communication altogether.

3. Barriers to negative emotions

This can be referred to as barriers to communication that arise under the influence of deep stresses and severe events, when a person closes in himself and evades communication, as well as barriers caused by strong emotions (anger, fear). Negatively affect interpersonal interaction and deep complexes of negative emotions (for example, shame or guilt), as well as a bad mood, which can be not only transient, but also "chronic."

You can list a lot of groups and types of barriers in communication, however, when you collide with each of them, depending on the significance of a particular person for you and the purposes of your interaction, there is a choice: you can try to reconcile with the situation or refuse to communicate at all. There are cases when a barrier can be eliminated if both partners are interested in it.

If you have sufficient self-criticism and feel that the cause of such barriers is your actions, then you are already in the middle of the path to their elimination. Do not be lazy to work on yourself and seek help from someone who can help you in this.