What are the barriers to effective communication?

Communication skills are one of the most important skills to have in any workplace, and the benefits of being an effective communicator are enormous and will have a positive influence on both staff's personal and professional life. We often think of communication in a very one-sided way and focus our attention on what’s being communicated, how it’s being communicated, and why. But communication isn’t a one-way street, it’s a relationship between you and whoever you’re communicating with - whether you’re speaking with them directly, writing a message, reading an email, or addressing a room full of people.

But sometimes, we can face barriers in the way of us communicating effectively. These barriers can come from three sources...

There are Personal Barriers - which come from you. These often result from a lack of preparation, knowledge, or skill. To prevent personal barriers, you should plan what you want to say in advance; make sure you understand the information so you can relay it with confidence; and make sure that you use tools and equipment that you know how to use - for example, make sure that you're familiar with any software before using it.

Then there’s Social Barriers which come from other people. They might include the knowledge or skill level of whoever you’re communicating with; their thoughts, feelings, or preconceptions about you; and whether there are any cultural or language differences which might cause confusion. The best way to overcome Social Barriers is to know your audience and use language that allows them to understand you - for example, avoid using jargon or slang.

And there are Environmental Barriers which tend to be distractions, errors, faults, or really anything outside of you and whoever you’re communicating with. Potential Environmental Barriers include noisy offices, poor internet connections, or badly printed photocopies, among other things. This is why “the right place” and “the right time” are key considerations for effective communication.