4 barriers to communication at work – and how to overcome them
When we’re at work, communication plays a major role on a day-to-day basis. Not only can it strengthen our relationships with colleagues, but it can also be the difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one.
Strong communication lets us convey ideas, thoughts and directions in ways that everyone can understand. But when problems arise in the way we communicate, the lack of clarity and intent can create barriers – and it’s these barriers that stand in the way of workplace success.
Here, we’ll present some common workplace communication challenges and how you can overcome them to help your spoken and written communication stay clear and confusion-free.
Quick links
- How important is communication in the workplace?
- Main types of communication barriers
- 4 common communication barriers and how to overcome them
How important is communication in the workplace?
In the workplace, barriers cause delays and unsuccessful projects, creating more work and possibly more stress for colleagues.
Poor communication is one of the most common barriers to successful projects in the workplace, manifesting in several ways, such as physical, emotional, language, and attitudinal barriers. Eliminating these barriers will lead to a more cohesive team which can more effectively deliver results for stakeholders.
It’s not just communication within the office that can cause issues, though. Poor communication with stakeholders can lead to unrealistic expectations, knocked confidence, and potentially lost business in future.
For all the reasons listed above, communication is arguably one of the most important factors that differentiates an excellent team from a mediocre one.
Main types of communication barriers
Communication barriers can include anything that prevents people from conveying the right message to the listener, or a listener misunderstanding the speaker’s message.
There are three main categories of communication barriers that can prevent effective communication from taking place:
Physical communication barriers
Physical barriers, like social distancing, remote working, and background noise are common issues that lead to poor communication in the office. Access to communal areas and regular meetings for remote workers can help to alleviate some of the issues.
Emotional/psychological barriers
Personal issues, stress, fear or mistrust in management can cause employees to shut down and communicate less with the company. A strong company culture built on mutual respect and trust can mitigate these issues before they become serious problems.
Language communication barriers
An inclusive workplace will likely have team members whose first language is not English, which can be a barrier to communication, particularly when technical topics are being discussed. Remember to be inclusive with language and allow for non-native speakers to ask questions if they’re unsure of the terminology.
Attitudinal barriers
Attitudinal barriers specifically affect those who live with disabilities and can include treating the employee as a “second-class employee” or feeling sorry for the employee, or the opposite, where someone is propped up as a hero simply because they are disabled. Being aware of these patterns of speech can lead to a more inclusive workplace that allows people to shine regardless of their disabilities.
4 common communication barriers and how to overcome them
Inconsistency and mixed messages
Mixed messages put out to employees cause confusion, lower productivity, and an unsettled workforce.
Keeping messaging and communication consistent can be fixed by knowing the subject matter inside and out, and being confident in that message to your staff will avoid the confusion and frustration that inconsistency can lead to.
Poor listening
As a manager, you’re probably spinning multiple plates at once, but listening to your team should be one of the most important plates to keep spinning.
By effectively listening to people in the workplace, you can better communicate overall.
Inadequate body language
Sometimes, it’s not what you’re saying with your words, but what you’re saying with your posture, facial expression, and eye contact.
Three happy multiracial business people wearing businesswear smiling during discussion at meeting in office
Make sure to keep good eye contact, ensure that your facial expression matches the conversation you’re having, and ensure that the speaker has your full attention by avoiding playing with jewellery, hair, or other objects.
Using excessive jargon
Know your CRO from your CRM and your APIs from your KPIs? That’s fine if you do, but not everyone might be as up to speed on their initialisms as you are.
Particularly when speaking to people outside of your industry or newcomers to it, be sure to speak clearly in terms that the average person can understand.
It’s also a good idea to give the listener the opportunity to interject and ask what a term means if they’re unsure.
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