Communication Barriers Prevent You from Conveying Your Message

Sharing your thoughts seems like it should be simple, but often it isn't. So many things can interfere with your message and form communication barriers. George Bernard Shaw said it best, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

People form an opinion of you in seconds which means you don't have much time to make a good impression. That's why you need to be aware of the most common communication barriers that fall into three categories:

Visual: Body language, gestures, facial expressions, clothes, and grooming all factor into the visual impression you make and can interfere with making your point.

Vocal: Tone of voice, pace of speaking and vocal range also affect the impression you make. Finding the optimal volume, pace and tone help your audience embrace and understand your presentation.

Verbal: Your word choice can make all the difference to the audience listening to your message. Choosing your words wisely will serve you when trying to make a point.

All three of these areas need to be aligned to ensure good communication.

Additional Types of Communication Barriers

People may encounter any of these problems as they speak to a group or listen to a program

• Assuming you have understood what the other person is saying and leaping to conclusions
• Using tech talk, jargon and acronyms to speed up communication between peers can become obstacles for others who are not as familiar with them
• Getting distracted by cell phones, other noises, and even a nice view out the window can keep your audience from paying attention.

The fear of public speaking can make a speaker less effective. Cross cultural differences can also make communication problematic. And when dealing with difficult people, emotions flow which certainly impacts successful communication.

How to Overcome Communication Barriers

The easiest way to overcome communication barriers in the workplace is to improve listening skills. The more you listen versus talk, the better your communication will become.

In addition, communication styles are not one size fits all. Some people take in information easily while others are slow to process. Some focus on the task while for others the relationship is more important. To bridge the gap between these basic differences, Laurie, a DISC certified trainer, uses these personality types to help to minimize style differences.

"It was a great pleasure attending your lecture yesterday. Your engaging sense of humor mixed perfectly well with practical advices, vivid stories, and hands-on demonstrations. I am sure that I will utilize some of the key takeaways through the rest of my career."
—REN SHI, ZF-TRW

Choose Laurie Brown for Powerful Programs to Resolve Communication Barriers

If your team or executives need to communicate more effectively, hire Laurie to deliver outstanding programs. Learn how to manage the visual, vocal and verbal aspects of your speaking style. Work to improve listening skills, use clarifying questions and reduce tech talk to convey your message more effectively. Programs are perfect for breakout sessions at your next conference or in-house training.

Contact Laurie Now at (248) 761-7510 for Your Next Event or Training Session.