The process of passing information from one person to another, either verbally or non-verbally, is known as communication. Whenever a piece of information gets a different perception other than the intended, the communication is said to have hit a barrier. These breakdowns can be caused either intentionally or unintentionally, and if no clarification is given, then productivity is reduced. According to an article by Chron (2018), there are four main barriers to communication. Language difference is a major hindrance, and it usually occurs when the language of the sender and the receiver do not match. This may occur due to different dialects or even when the sender uses slang. It is, therefore, paramount for both the sender and receiver to speak the same language in order for communication to be successful.
Cultural differences can also be a major hindrance to communication. Some people may have a prejudice against others who have a different culture from theirs. Chron (2018) also states that differences in gender also contribute to communicational barriers between people, especially when men and women are held to different standards(para.3). Nevertheless, personality differences may also hinder proper communication among peers. Different people tend to have different communication skills as well. While some are good at expressing themselves, others find it easy to listen and reflect (Chron, 2018).
When these two kinds of people communicate together, there may be a hindrance as one may look at some crucial bit while the other may pass on an opportunity to express themselves. Finally, generational differences may hinder communication, and different generations have different eating habits, dressing, and communication skills. The younger generation may have a preference for technology as a primary means of communication, while the older generation may have a preference to face to face means of communication.
In trying to solve some of these barriers, there are a number of measures that can be employed by a firm to ensure sufficient communication occurs among colleagues. The first method of solving this is the need to employ a translator when the sender and receiver speak different languages. The organization can also take a radical measure of training the whole staff in the relevant languages that the employees need. Nevertheless, the company also needs to conduct staff training on the need to be accommodative of other cultures and other personalities in the workspace. Finally, the company needs to conduct regular changes to the model of how it operates in order to accommodate the generational changes.
References
Chron. (2018). Barriers to interpersonal communication. Web.