In this series, we discuss The Seven Barriers of Communication. This post is dedicated to interpersonal barriers. Stay tuned as we discuss each. Show
One of the trickiest obstacles to effective communication is interpersonal barriers. The ability to interact with others face-to-face and exchange information clearly through verbal and non-verbal messages is the basis for much of our everyday communication. Without interpersonal communication skills, it’s very hard for individuals to find success in their professional and personal lives. Luckily, you can practice and improve upon these skills. By identifying behavior patterns that stop us from connecting with others, we can begin to form better habits that enhance all the relationships in our lives. Why interpersonal communication skills are essential in the workplace (and beyond)Whether we like it or not, the impressions we make when speaking to others set the tone for the rest of our interactions. Within a few moments, co-workers and clients often form lasting opinions about us based on how we choose to communicate. However, tone, attitude, energy levels, and body language vary from person to person and can change based on other factors, such as mood and environment. Imagine coming into work after a stressful morning where everything went wrong. Those frustrations stay on your mind and affect your mood long after the initial events have passed. You start the day off with a meeting in which you’re clearly distracted, and others mistake your stress for disinterest. When you check in with team members for progress reports, you cross your arms and tap your foot, appearing impatient. Then, when someone asks you for information, you sigh loudly and handle their requests at a slow pace. All of these behaviors send a message to the people around you. You don’t enjoy what you’re doing. Helping them is bothersome, and you don’t have the energy to be positive and productive. An occasional bad day isn’t a big deal, but if it becomes a pattern, it will cause ongoing problems. The people you communicate with will often reflect the same energy they received from you. So, it’s beneficial to be aware of the impression you make on others and put your best foot forward in all interactions. What are interpersonal barriers to communication?Interpersonal barriers are any negative patterns of behavior that hinder you from communicating or discourage others from communicating with you. In many cases, miscommunication is the product of unintentional verbal or non-verbal cues. We may misinterpret someone’s facial expressions or choice of words and form opinions based on that misunderstanding. At other times, conflicts develop simply because people have different ways of expressing themselves. Barriers can also stem from the workplace culture and leadership, making it difficult for employees to voice their concerns or questions. Let’s look at a few types of interpersonal communication barriers in more detail. Examples of interpersonal barriersAll of us have struggled to connect with others at some point or another, but for some, this problem can be perpetual and destructive. Poor self-esteem, social anxiety, arrogance, and other issues can make it difficult for people to feel comfortable opening up to others. As a result, they struggle to communicate their feelings accurately and interpret the feelings of others. You or your co-workers might experience these struggles in the following ways: 1. Lack of participationCommunicating with someone who doesn’t want to is impossible. People can appear unwilling to communicate when they don’t speak up when they should, dodge direct questions, or use defensive body language. 2. Lack of open-mindednessIt’s tough to communicate with someone who refuses to explore different points of view, opinions, or ideas about the world. We must be able to get along with people of different viewpoints to function even at a basic level with other people. 3. Lack of trustWorking together is difficult when team members don’t trust one another to do their jobs well. Micromanaging and undermining others are signs of distrust. Not only does this discourage people from sharing ideas, but it prevents the team from achieving goals. 4. Lack of transparencyClosing off communication is the precursor to distrust. When we hold back information that others need, we create an unnecessary hardship for them. Being open and honest is the best way to build trust and empower others to make good decisions. 5. Lack of patienceEveryone has different strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Try not to get upset when someone performs a task or approaches a problem differently from how you would do it. Being patient with others will help you stay calm when your personalities or work styles clash. 6. Lack of organizationSometimes, a poorly organized environment creates interpersonal barriers. Do people know where to go for help or answers? Does everyone have a clear understanding of their roles? People can’t communicate well if they feel like there’s no order and their concerns will never be addressed. Overcoming interpersonal barriersWhether you’re struggling to reach out to others or you’re dealing with someone who seems difficult to connect with, there are many things you can practice to improve the situation. Use simple languageWhen we’re having difficulty connecting, overly complex words and ideas might be the things standing in the way. Break down your conversation into its simplest parts and try again. We all come with our own biases, backgrounds, and interpretations of the world, and it’s easy for two people to have entirely different views of the conversation at hand. Leave as little up to interpretation as possible, and stick to the facts. Practice active listeningWhen we’re struggling to communicate, we often spend too much time focusing on our own words and not enough time listening and responding. Next time you find yourself in conflict with someone, try asking questions and actively listening to the answer. The goal isn’t to find new and different ways to restate your opinions or ‘win’ the argument. Don’t cut off your speaker, and ask follow-up questions. After all, listening is half of communication. Stay calmThe hardest part of working through a communication barrier is keeping your frustrations in check. Remember, you’re not going to get your point across any clearer by seeming annoyed. Stay calm, and most importantly, be patient. Give the conversation that time it needs. Provide feedbackWe could all learn a lot about our communication styles and skills if we got more feedback from others. Don’t be afraid to share constructive criticism when it would genuinely help the other person communicate more productively with others. Ask, don’t assumeWhen you don’t understand someone else’s perspective or method, don’t assume yours is the right one. Instead of trying to take over or undermine others, be honest and humble. Let them know you’re unfamiliar with their approach and genuinely want to know more. If the other person is making a mistake, they’re more likely to be receptive to your suggestions after you make an effort to understand them. Final thoughtsFostering good interpersonal communications as a company is challenging the more your organization grows. A bigger workforce creates more opportunities for misunderstandings. However, if you encourage empathy and inclusivity throughout your culture, employees are more likely to adopt similar habits and develop positive relationships with peers. As individuals, we can all strive to listen without judgment, go into situations with an open mind, and be patient with others. When we’re more aware of how behavior affects everyone around us, we can significantly improve how we communicate. No matter the size of your organization, you can encourage teamwork and collaboration with communication tools like team chat apps. Our own Typetalk tool allows co-workers to message directly or discuss projects in chat topics. Be sure to choose programs that make it easy to pin topics and get notifications, so employees can quickly get the information they need. What are some of your favorite strategies for bridging interpersonal barriers to communication? Share them with us on Twitter! This post was originally published on January 9, 2017, and updated most recently on February 4, 2022. Which barrier to accurate perception is involved when we fail to focus on important information because we give too much weight to obvious and superficial information?Which barrier to accurate perception is involved when we fail to focus on important information because we give too much weight to obvious and superficial information? indirect perception checking.
Which of the following is not a barrier to accurate interpersonal perception?The correct answer is Ethnocentrism. It is the term anthropologists use to describe the opinion that one's own way of life is natural or correct. It is perceiving one's own cultural beliefs and customs as superior to those of other people.
What do you mean by interpersonal perception?Interpersonal perception is an area of research in social psychology which examines the beliefs that interacting people have about each other. This area differs from social cognition and person perception by being interpersonal rather than intrapersonal, and thus requiring the interaction of at least two actual people.
How does perception affect interpersonal communication?Perception is the process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting information. This process affects our communication because we respond to stimuli differently, whether they are objects or persons, based on how we perceive them.
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