3 Barriers To Effective Communication

By Debby Sanders  Posted on: Aug 25, 2011 ¦  Article Rank: 347 ¦  Likes: 21

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Many people would define effective communication as “getting your message across in a clear, unambiguous manner”; I define it as “getting the result you want from the communication”. We communicate for a wide variety of reasons, from a need to be understood to convincing someone of something, to getting a particular reaction or response from another person. Here I’ll share with you some of the most common barriers to effective communication – things that can prevent you from getting the result you want.

1st Barrier to Effective Communication Lack of eye contact. No matter what result you’re hoping for from communicating face-to-face, eye contact is one of your most powerful tools. Trying to communicate without making good eye contact is like trying to speak without opening your mouth. It hampers you greatly. Making eye contact can make the person you’re speaking to trust you more, be more open to what you’re saying, and it can also help them in understanding what you’re saying.

2nd Barrier to Effective Communication Not listening. Listening is extremely powerful, not only because it affects the other person – making them feel more relaxed and open to listening to you when it’s your turn to speak, but also when you listen properly you gain information and understanding that help you communicate your own intentions and views much more clearly and effectively, catering to that person based on what you’ve learned about their position, state and views in the moment. By listening – I mean really listening – to the other person, you are able to tailor what you say and the way you say it in order to achieve the most effective result.

3rd Barrier to Effective Communication Lack of energy. I don’t mean you should be jumping up and down, I mean an energy in your attitude. People who are most effective in their communication – in other words, achieve the results they want from their encounters with others – have an energy when they speak. This is simply an attitude adjustment. When engaging with another person, putting a little emotion into what you’re saying – whether it’s enthusiasm or empathy – will give you an edge. You are more likely to affect another person in the way you want to, if they feel that unseen electrical charge. There are various exercises and tools to help you improve your communication skills in this way, and it’s easier than you might think. It’s well worth developing this skill.

So, there you have 3 barriers to effective communication – and how to overcome them. There are of course more than three, but these are probably the most common ones, and they’re not difficult to improve on. With practice, and using simple exercises you can overcome barriers to effective communication

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