Mechanisms to reduce the barriers of communication

Solutions to the Barriers of Communication

Communication is a vital part of any relationship, whether it is a working, romantic or friendly relationship. When effective communication is interrupted or not executed properly, it can lead to misunderstandings that might hurt the relationship. There are barriers to communication that must be overcome by the speaker. It is possible to reduce those barriers so proper communication can take place.

Background Noise

Background noise should not be underestimated, even a slight continuous noise, such as the humming of an air conditioning unit or the ticking of a clock, can distract an audience. Background noise in the homes or businesses of your customers can be a barrier to communication. For example, you may call a customer who: bullet point.

• Has a radio or CD player turned up high...
• Has electrical equipment in the background..., bullet point.

To reduce this communication barrier the best thing to do is to move to a place with less noise especially if you are in an office, the sound of a printer running or coffee machines going can block out what the speaker is saying or if the customer is calling you and there is noise coming from their end you could ask them to turn the radio or CD player off or if there is other noises going on in the background you could ask then to go to a place with less noise so that you can understand and hear what they are saying. However if you are in an office and you can’t even hear yourself think never mind trying to do your work, you could use headphones that plays your favorite music or even just by listening to the radio while using your headphones can help you concentrate more so that the background noise does not affect your communication with other people.

Distractions

Distractions such as: someone walking into a meeting late or leaving unexpectedly, the arrival of the tea trolley or a mobile phone beeping these can interrupt the flow of thought of an audience and momentarily, they could stop listening to you. As soon as that happens, communication will falter and you, as the speaker, might feel the need to repeat part of the message. Some of the common distractions are:
• Noise: Many times it is difficult to have a meaningful conversation due to a noisy location. Noise comes in many forms: from people, equipment, street noise and more. When it becomes difficult to hear and concentrate (assuming it is an important conversation) move to a place that has less noise.
• Visual: It can be tough to concentrate when there is a lot of activity or other visual distractions in the area. As with noise, move to a place where there are less visual distractions.
• Stress: The stress in someone’s life can make it difficult to concentrate. Stress can be for many reasons such as family issues, work problems, financial concerns, illness of self or a family member, and more. Refocusing frequently works, if it doesn’t, then choose another time to talk.
• Time: If a pressing appointment (for either you or the other person) won’t allow adequate time to address an issue effectively then choose a more convenient time.

• Other distractions: There are many other distractions that can draw needed attention away from conversations. Using common sense to minimize these distractions helps improve the environment for effective listening.

Lack of Concentration

Lack of concentration from your audience will also hinder communication. It is important to maintain concentration levels despite any distractions. The length of a conversation or communication is important the recipient can only take in so much information at a time and anything beyond that is counterproductive. For example, a short verbal rebuke might prove useful but the recipient is likely to lose concentration if this turns into a lecture on behaviour.  Sleep deprivation is probably the most common cause for an inability to concentrate on one topic for very long. The first step in attempting to solve your concentration problem is finding a way to get at least eight hours of sleep every night.  Boredom is a big problem when it comes to staying focused on something. Boredom stops you from doing something that lacks meaning and motivation. To overcome this is every time you prepare to do something especially work related, take a moment for a reality check. What do you need to accomplish? Why? Concentrate on a goal for the next hour and think of a way you can be rewarded for reaching that goal. However, if you have a serious concentration problem, you may need to make some sacrifices to find a solution. Try getting plenty of sleep and see if you get results. There really is no short and simple way to overcome lack of concentration. You may listen to relaxing music. You may repeat affirmations. You may use hypnosis. This could help you, to some extent, but to overcome lack of concentration you will need to do more. You will need to train your mind. The problem is that people often lack the willpower and motivation to begin and continue with the training and exercises. If you decide to start with a training program, don’t give up, no matter how difficult this might be, even if your mind keeps wandering and you feel that you are not making progress, it is okay, you are making progress, though you might not be aware of it yet. The progress might be minor in the beginning, but it is still progress. You are changing deep subconscious habits, and this sometimes takes time.