Communication Barriers
Learning Goals
5. I will be able to explain obstacles/barriers to effectivecommunication
6. I will be able to suggest ways to overcome these barriers
7. I will be able to describe some techniques used to improvecommunication skills (active listening, constructivefeedback, technology)
8. I will be able to explain the communication process.
Game - Telephone
1st – write down a sentence on a small piece of paper and hand it tome.
2nd – I will give one person the sentence and you need to whisper itto the person sitting next to you until the whole class has heard thesentence.
3rd – the last person says the sentence out loud and see if it haschanged or is the same.
****RULES****
Sentences MUST be classroom appropriate!!!!!!!
You can only say the sentence ONCE so try and be as clear as possible.
Why do you think the messagewas changed?
Barriers to Communication
Physical barriers- yelling across the hall, communicating fromdifferent locations
Perceptual barriers- we all see the world differently
Emotional barriers- withholding thoughts and feelings
Cultural barriers- group behaviors
Language barriers- not everyone is familiar with all languages orjargon
Inappropriate Communication Channels – using the appropriatetype of communication for a given situation.
How do you think we canovercome these barriers?
Ways to overcome these barriers
Physical barriers- try to use face-to-face communicationfrequently
Perceptual barriers- recognize we have different values andtry to recognize where the person is speaking from
Emotional barriers- try to build trust
Cultural barriers- recognize differences in meaning,pacing, volume and gesture, space, and touch
Language barriers- learn more about different cultures,relax, try to find a place where there are not manyadditional stimuli to take away from the exchange ofmessages
- ask what people need in order to communicate mosteffectively
- Ask for feedback
Can You Follow DirectionsActivity
Steps to Improve Communication
Active Listening
Constructive Feedback
Use of Communication Channels
Interactive Management
Proxemics and Space Design
Technology Utilization
Active Listening
Active Listening – the process helping someone say exactly what he orshe means by fully listening to what is being said, controlling youremotions, and withholding premature evaluations or interpretations.
Rules to being an active listener
1. listen for the message content – try to hear exactly what is being said
2. listen for feelings – try to determine how the sender feels about what isbeing said
3. respond to feelings – let the sender know that their feelings are beingrecognized.
4. Note all cues – pay attention to non-verbal messages
5. paraphrase or restate – state back to the sender what you think you arehearing.
Raymond Video on ActiveListening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VOubVB4CTU
10 steps for good listening – YouNeed This!!!!
1.STOP TALKING!!!!
2.Make the other person feel comfortable
3.Show that you want to listen
4.Remove potential distractions
5.Empathize with the other person
6.Don’t respond too quickly, be patient
7.Don’t get mad, hold your temper
8.Don’t argue too much
9.Ask questions
10.STOP TALKING!!!!
Constructive Feedback
Feedback – the process of telling someone else how you feel aboutsomething that person said or did.
Giving constructive feedback is a skill managers need to learn. Youwant to be able to give feedback without making your employeesfeel like they did something wrong.
Tips: Give feedback directly after the situation happens.
Make sure feedback is specific. Use good, clear and recent examples tomake your points. Should include steps to improve.
Give feedback when the receiver seems willing to accept it.
Give feedback in small amounts. You don’t want your employee to feeloverwhelmed
Use of Communication Channels
Channel richness – the capacity of a communication channelto effectively carry information. Did the game telephone havea rich communication channel?
Low Richness – impersonal, one way, fast. E.g. postings, e-bulletins, reports
Middle Richness (in order of richness) – Memos, Lettesr, emails,voice mail, telephone, video conferences
High Richness – personal, two way, slow – face to face meetingsand conversations.
Interactive Management
Managers spend time outside of their office to meet and talkwith workers at all levels.
Managers can have open office times, when employees cancome by to discuss topics. For example, teachers officehours. After school until 4 o’clock you can go and see yourteacher to ask questions.
Proxemics and Space Design
Body language and personal space (Proxemics)
The distance between two people conveys different messages.What is it saying if you are really close to someone?
Space Design – spacing of chairs, desks, walls communicatedifferent messages. E.g. Our desks are in groups, what doesthat say? How is it different if they were in lines? Facing thewall instead of the front?
Technology Utilization
Use technology appropriately and efficiently. Some managersread up to 300 emails daily.
Tips
-Get rid of useless messages and get off distribution lists
-Read emails only once and respond immediately
-Avoid sending group messages and avoid responding Reply toAll
-Sent short messages in the subject line, avoid long messages.
Communication Process
Communication Defintion – the process of sending andreceiving symbols with meanings attached.
The people involved are the;
Senders – the people that encode (create) the message intoinformation
Receivers – the people that decode (interpret) the messagesmeaning and send back feedback
Everything in the middle that interferes withcommunication is considered noise (a barrier).
See diagram on page 443 of text book.
Effective vs Efficient
Effective Communication – occurs when the message isfully understood. The intended and interpreted message arethe same.
Efficient Communication – occurs at a minimum cost. Fewresources are expended.
E.g. in class: The message I deliver to the whole class isthere is a test on Friday and the whole class receives themessage. Is this effective or efficient?
The problem with efficient communication is that itsometimes is not effective. E.g. I say we have a test onFriday but only half the class is listening, therefore, I haveno fully sent out my message.
Learning Goals Review
5. I will be able to explain obstacles/barriers to effectivecommunication
6. I will be able to suggest ways to overcome these barriers
7. I will be able to describe some techniques used to improvecommunication skills (active listening, constructivefeedback, technology)
8. I will be able to explain the communication process.