Communication Barriers

There are several types of communication barriers including...

• Cultural differences
• Assumptions
• Poor communication skills
• Defensiveness

Cultural differences are increasingly important to understand in our global world.

In addition to the difficulty we face when we can't understand another person's verbal language... Many nonverbal communication cues are different around the globe as well.

Assumptions are another type of communication barrier.

I can't tell you how many people tell me that they believe their interpretation of another person's nonverbal communication is correct.

I personally don't believe it... After years of working with people and their movement - as a dance/movement therapist - I'm convinced that some interpretations are correct and some are not.

I think assuming you know what another person is thinking or feeling can lead to many mis-communications. I encourage you to notice when you think you know and ask the other person about it.

Here's an example...

One of the participants in a workshop I was teaching, kept looking around the room and fidgeting. I assumed she was bored with what I was talking about...

However, when I asked her she said that she had heard that morning that her mother was gravely ill and needed to be hospitalized.

So you never know - Ask - Ask - Ask!

Poor communication skills include:

• Not asking for clarification when another person gives you a direction and you don't understand it.
• Justifying yourself when you feel attacked rather than listening and mirroring the other person.
• Lying.
• Being vague when requesting something from another person.
• Making passive-aggressive comments or nonverbal behavior when you feel upset with someone rather than clearly communicating your feelings or concerns and having a conscious conversation. This includes sarcasm, eye-rolling, and other indirect attacks.

Defensiveness is the primary barrier to effective communication because when we become defensive, usually we quit listening to the other person.

Effective communication skills can make a world of difference in our lives. We have to live and work with other people. Effective communication enables us to do so easily and gracefully.

Return from my Communication Barriers page to Effective Communication Skills