L33T Index
Effective Communication
General Communication Barrier
Distractions can act as a barrier to General communication as it can take away the recipients attention from the conversation. This can lead to miss understood information and could increase errors in work for example. Distractions can come in many forms such as:
- A ticking clock
- A phone ring
- Background noise from Air Conditioning
- TV / speakers
This barrier can be overcome by trying to locate the source of any noises and remove them. If this is achievable you can do so and reduce the background noises significantly. This could have a second positive affect in reducing the clutter around you and the amount of things that can convert your attention away from the speaker.
A second alternative is to adopt to an active listening style in which you pay closer attention to what is being said. By subconsciously taking the words being said and understanding it from both yourself and the speakers view point you are more engaged and the noises become less apparent.
Other quick ways to reduce the effectiveness of Background noise include
- Turning off phones
- Speak in straight forward language
- Adjust your tone of voice
Interpersonal Skills Barrier
Physical barriers can act as a barrier to interpersonal communication as they can divide and separate workers. Examples of physical barriers can include:
- Walls
- Doors
- Whole offices
- Pods
These barriers can be resolved by creating A more open working environment by removing the walls (pods) , or ensuring that the height of the dividers are below eye level in a seating position to allow good communication. By doing this it allows eye contact to be made, gestures can be seen and a conversation is made more open and engaging by default. This style of layout can remove any impression certain staff are of any more importance then another solely due to the room layout.
By reducing the distance between offices you can make travel from one another quicker and therefore can have conversations more often reducing stress and confusion throughout the day.
Other quick ways to reduce the effectiveness of physical barriers include:
- Glass walls
- Open windows to allow sound to get through
- Larger shared desks to involve people with one another easier
Written Communication Barrier
Irrelevant content can act as a written communication barrier as it prevent useful information from being told and can miss lead the recipient on the purpose of your message.
In overcoming this barrier you can plan what you need to say before you write it to filter out the irrelevant areas and get the key facts and statements in quicker to maintain the readers interest. Planning means you can order and format the writing more clearly making it easier as well as quicker to read.
Another way to remove irrelevant content from your work is to get proof read from someone else as this allows you to gain a view point from someone else who can then highlight any mistakes or irrelevant areas. While this may not get rid of all the irrelevant information it should draw out any big areas and improve the understanding of the document for everyone else who reads it.
other quick ways to reduce the chance of Irrelevant content include:
- Tailor your writing to achieve a purpose
- Read your work straight after writing it