Effective communication can be hindered by various factors. Understanding these barriers is crucial for improving communication skills.

Badly Expressed Message

Improper formulation and presentation of a message can prove to be detrimental to the growth of communication and therefore its impact on the receiver is sure to be negative. As there is lack of comprehension on the part of the listener it leads to misunderstanding and subsequent erection of barriers in the process of communication.

Loss in Transmission

While speaking or delivering an important point, part of the message might be lost due to problems in the medium of transmitting the message. For example, speaking on the telephone. It might happen that just when you wish to communicate an essential item of information, disturbance in the line might make the receiver miss out on an important part of the message. This would deprive the message of the communicative impact.

Poor Retention

Poor retention either on the part of the sender or on the part of the receiver can create problems or lead to misunderstanding. If it is the speaker, he might posit contradictory points of view which would often lead to a warped sense of understanding of the message. The receiver’s past or present experiences with the sender prepare him for what is to follow. If ideas contrary to his expectations are presented they create a sense of uncertainty in the mind of the receiver. Similarly if the receiver has poor retention power he would, more often than not, get confused and this would lead to misunderstanding of the message.

Inattentive Listening

Partial or marginal listening can distort the intent of the message. The receiver could be paying heed partially to the spoken material and partially to his thought processes. In such instances he is sure to misunderstand the intent of the spoken material. Listening is a process which demands that full attention be paid to the spoken material. Any kind of noise or distraction may make the receiver lose out on an important aspect of the spoken material. As a result of this, misunderstandings in the process of communication are bound to arise.

Differing Status, Position and Self-expression

It is always easier to communicate at the peer level or with friends. The primary reason for this is that the mental faculties or the levels of experience of the speaker and the listener match. In case there is too much of a difference between the sender and the receiver by virtue of their status or position or even experience which neither has attempted to bridge, different frames of references would come to the fore. Trying to incorporate ideas posited in course of the interaction within one’s own frame of reference would lead to discrepancies in the understanding of the message. As a result of this, there arises a mismatch in the transmission and acceptance of ideas and concepts floated.

Prejudices

Prejudice can also seriously impede the transmission of ideas. An unreasonable bias rejects ideas without consideration. Although we usually relate prejudice to race, religion, and color, most of us encounter it in a dozen other ways. It may be a simple but strongly held viewpoint (or perception) on the part of the Chief Executive, or it may be the classic statement of the foreman: "Well, I've been here 28 years; we never tried it before, and I 'm sure it won't work now."

“I” Attitude

Too much usage of “I” can lead to an “I-syndrome”. Whenever we enter into any kind of discussion it should be well-borne in mind that the co-interacting also needs to be included in the discussion. If the “I-attitude” is changed to a “You-attitude” or “We-attitude” issues are going to get relatively simplified. This would enlist the whole-hearted cooperation of the co-participant by inculcating in him a feeling of being part of the entire discussion. The impression conveyed is that the speaker is not leading the interaction or speaking from a higher pedestal.

Resistance to Change

Resistance to change is a natural part of life, but it can be a barrier. One has to accept change. Similarly one needs to change or reinforce the existing ideas in communication which is an ongoing activity. If fixed ideas are entrenched in the mind and the receiver refuses to accept the change, positing of new concepts will be ineffective. Being resistant to issues which are contrary to already existing ideas hampers the process of communication.

Refutations and Arguments

Gearing oneself for refutations and arguments merely to score victory over the speaker can divert the concentration of the receiver. Instead of listening attentively his interest will be focused on attempts to prove the speaker incorrect. In the process of communication, discussions if they are posited merely for the sake of making one’s presence felt in the course of communication, become barriers.