Recognizing the Barriers

You may question, what are the barriers we come across when communicating? There are many, let's look into the important ones.


Physical Barriers
 These are the barriers that often occur the most in the business world. Closed doors, individual offices or on the other side of the world. Working face to face creates greater bonds between co-workers and collaborative ideas that you may not get when talking on the phone. Making eye contact and gestures create a deeper bond and makes it easier to work and get your projects done.

doors that are closed, walls that are erected, and distance between people all work against the goal of effective communication. While most agree that people need their own personal areas in the workplace, setting up an office to remove physical barriers is the first step towards opening communication. Many professionals who work in industries that thrive on collaborative communication, such as architecture, purposefully design their workspaces around an “open office” plan. This layout eschews cubicles in favor of desks grouped around a central meeting space. While each individual has their own dedicated work space, there are no visible barriers to prevent collaboration with their co-workers. This encourages greater openness and frequently creates closer working bonds. - See more at: http://opin.ca/article/seven-barriers-communication#sthash.R2MpJj6K.dpuf

doors that are closed, walls that are erected, and distance between people all work against the goal of effective communication. While most agree that people need their own personal areas in the workplace, setting up an office to remove physical barriers is the first step towards opening communication. Many professionals who work in industries that thrive on collaborative communication, such as architecture, purposefully design their workspaces around an “open office” plan. This layout eschews cubicles in favor of desks grouped around a central meeting space. While each individual has their own dedicated work space, there are no visible barriers to prevent collaboration with their co-workers. This encourages greater openness and frequently creates closer working bonds. - See more at: http://opin.ca/article/seven-barriers-communication#sthash.R2MpJj6K.dpuf

doors that are closed, walls that are erected, and distance between people all work against the goal of effective communication. While most agree that people need their own personal areas in the workplace, setting up an office to remove physical barriers is the first step towards opening communication. Many professionals who work in industries that thrive on collaborative communication, such as architecture, purposefully design their workspaces around an “open office” plan. This layout eschews cubicles in favor of desks grouped around a central meeting space. While each individual has their own dedicated work space, there are no visible barriers to prevent collaboration with their co-workers. This encourages greater openness and frequently creates closer working bonds. - See more at: http://opin.ca/article/seven-barriers-communication#sthash.R2MpJj6K.dpuf

Emotional Barriers
These barriers are tough to overcome but must be done in order to engage in conversations. Many can pick up your insecurities when talking because it will come across in your tone and your facial expressions.

Language Barriers
This is the most common barrier that we come across when you are doing business, especially international business. Although English is a well spoken language in most countries, you might come across someone who knows little to no English, making it very difficult to communicate. 

Interpersonal Barriers
Reaching out to other and to open up about yourself comes naturally to most, some not so easy. Many are unable to form connections to the people they are talking to because they are either looking down or fumbling. Making and keeping eye contact to the person you are talking to is so important.

Breaking Down Interpersonal Communication Barriers

Interpersonal communication barriers negatively impact how effectively we are able to communicate at work, with our friends, and in our family life. Perhaps the most frustrating part of the communication process, barriers are and will be present every day of our lives.

"Careful communicators can conquer barriers in a number of ways, you need to recognize the entire process is sensitive"(Guffey Ellen Mary, 2013). You have to ask questions to yourself like "does the person know anything about the subject"? For instance, talking about the Superbowl game that was on last night to a co-worker, what if he/she does not watch football and has no clue what you are rambling on about, it will not create conversation between the two of you.

Business Communication Mary Ellen Guffey, Dana Loewy, Kathleen Rhodes, Patricia Rogin 2013

Verbal and Non-Verbal Cues

Verbal communication is the first thing we do when meeting a person. Talking with clarity helps the listener and will come across your message the right way. Mumbling will not get you anywhere.Try to keep a steady pace when talking to avoid speaking too fast. Non verbal communication is made when you make eye contact, listen to the speaker and your body language.

Communication Barrier

I found this video on YouTube, thought it would be a great way to start off my blog. This video shows what barriers can come between us in our everyday lives, we have to learn how to communicate through different means. This video starts off with a young girl asking for directions to a women, when there is no response from the women the young girl makes a face. We later find out that the women is deaf and because the girl is wearing a head scarf that covers her mouth the women is unable to make out what she is trying to say.