Communication barriers

SHARED FROM:

Lyndon Jones, Effective listening, Education & Training, February, 1980

 

Communication barriers

•        Distractions from the environment which includes:

-          unnecessary noise

-          phone calls or other distractions, such as drop-in visitors

-          doodling, tapping, shuffling papers around

-          room temperature and humidity

-          suffering from fatigue or headaches.

•        Distractions within the listener including:

-          Defensiveness

§  listener may become focused on feelings rather than on what is being said if what is heard appears threatening.

-          Resentment

§  listener planning what to say in response because the views which are expressed conflict with the listener's ideas, understanding

§  listener may be classifying things as right or wrong, good or bad, instead of listening to all the evidence

-          Reactions to the speaker

§  listener does not like the speaker, his manner or appearance, or feels threatened by him, and this can distort the listening process

-          Priority focus

§  listener has an important meeting scheduled or a pressing matter on his mind

§  the subject is not one which is of special interest to listener

-          Reactions to the subject

§  listener is not familiar or not appeal to the subject

-          Halo effect

§  listener may so admire someone as to accept without question what he says.

•        Distractions arising from the speaker caused by:

-          mannerisms

-          dress and/or grooming

-          use of language

-          style

-          accent