BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Physical Barriers External obstacles can prevent messages from reaching intended recipients. Defects in communication mediums like phones, postal systems, or electronic media can delay, distort, or lose messages. Noise like traffic or factory sounds disturbs face-to-face air communication. Information overload blocks some messages in transit to audiences. Semantic and Language Barriers Words can have multiple meanings based on context. Identical sounding words with different meanings like "minute" and "wind" create confusion. Stress changes noun/verb meanings without spelling differences. Similar sounding words like "flour" and "flower" are misunderstood. Descriptive words mean different things to different people based on experience. Technical terms are understood only within certain groups. New coined words take time to gain common understanding. Most fundamentally, words mean different things to different people based on age, education, culture etc. Mixed verbal and nonverbal messages also cause semantic problems. Socio-psychological Barriers Lack of communication skills in individuals creates barriers. Selfcentered attitudes prevent seeing others' perspectives. Strong group identification makes it hard to accept contrary ideas. Desire to maintain a certain self-image makes it hard to accept contrary feedback. Selective perception according to one's own needs and interests distorts messages. Defensiveness reduces understanding of threatening messages. Information filtering alters aspects of messages relayed to others. Status differences block willingness to accept suggestions or ideas from juniors. Resistance to change hinders acceptance of new ideas. Closedmindedness limits ability to consider new ideas and appeals. Poor communication skills in writing, speaking, reading, and listening are also barriers. Ill-health reduces alertness, attention, and communication abilities. Organizational Barriers Hierarchy and paperwork cause communication delays in organizations. Information gets filtered and lost passing up and down levels. Too much written communication goes unread. Internal rivalries between peers impede lateral information sharing. Poor organizational communication culture inhibits open information flow. Intercultural Barriers Cross-cultural communication faces barriers like differing national character, appearance, language, nonverbal behavior, values, social relationships, time concepts, thought patterns, and perceptions. Understanding these varied influences of culture on communication style and competence is key to effective crosscultural communication in our globalizing business world.