What are communication barriers in the workplace?

What are communication barriers in the workplace?

Communication barriers in the workplace are obstacles or factors that hinder effective and efficient communication between individuals or groups within an organisation.

The North East England Chamber of Commerce have gathered research from over 3,500 businesses in North of Tyne and Tees Valley who have identified communications skills as a key priority to train and develop.

In recent years the work place and the flexibility of work has change dramatically- and for the good in most cases. The ability to work from home is becoming the norm in most house holds. With these changes, new behaviors, language and communications come into play.

In the last week how many times have you said 'You're on mute.....no, you're still on mute!' There was much need for this before the pandamic.

Communication Elements

• Body Language – the visible actions that we show to others using all parts of our body – 55%
• Voice – the pitch, pace, tone and volume of our voice – 38%
• Words – the actual words that make up our message – 7%

Albert Mehrabian

‍

How effective is communication though the screen?

Barriers lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and reduced productivity! - A negative environment where you and the business will fail to thrive.

Lack of Clarity: Unclear messages, vague instructions, and ambiguous communication can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

Poor Listening Skills: Inadequate listening skills can result in miscommunication, as people may not fully comprehend the message being conveyed.

Hierarchical Barriers: A strict hierarchy can discourage open communication, as employees might be hesitant to share their opinions with higher-ups or superiors.

Lack of Feedback: Without regular feedback and confirmation, the sender of the message cannot be sure if the receiver understood the message correctly.

Different Communication Channels: Using inappropriate communication channels (e.g., email for urgent matters) can lead to delays and miscommunication.

Lack of Body Language: In virtual communication, the absence of nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language can make it harder to interpret messages accurately.

Key Training have a host of management and communication short courses to address these niggles,

Communication Skills (1 Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Conflict Resolution (1 Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Building and Managing Remote Teams (1 Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Discovery Insights (Half Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Handling Difficult Conversations (1 Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Leading and Driving Change (Half Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Situational Leadership (Half Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (1 Day) (keytraining.co.uk)

Contact Key Training to help make your communications run smoother on 0800 101 7107 or enquiries@keytraining.co.uk