In business communication, we face many barriers. In the following part, the most common barriers are discussed.
- Linguistic Barriers: Linguistic barriers occur when the receiver is unable to understand fully both the explicit and implicit meaning of the language used by the sender. It may be happened because of limited vocabulary, wrong choice of words, construction of long and complex sentences, improper word order, improper punctuation, and so on.
- Psychological Barriers: Psychological barriers mean mental or emotional barriers. It may be occurred because of wrong assumptions, one-track thinking, lack of concentration, fixed ideas on a topic or issue or subject, etc.
- Interpersonal Barriers: Interpersonal barriers are closely related to psychological barriers. The interpersonal barriers arise from the display of strong emotions, feelings, and negative attitudes. The emotions are – love, hate, anger, fear, jealousy, joy, etc. when the receiver of a message feels threatened by real or imagined danger, he becomes defensive or hostile.
- Cultural Barriers: Cultural barriers arise from different practices in business communication. Generally, culture varies from person to person, society to society, country to country. For example; in Bangladesh, if any public or private institution arranges any program, the participants may attend after the scheduled time but the western people never be late to attend the party because it’s the rule of their tradition.
- Physical Barriers: Physical barriers are of three types. They are –
- Technical noise; such as harsh or loud music, the din of the machine, the creaking of the doors or windows, etc.
- Physical noise; such as improper sitting arrangement, poor listening, physical discomfort because of room temperature or uncomfortable seats and
- Destructive; such as gaudy dress, odd body movements, unsuitable gestures, loud perfume, etc.
- Organizational Barriers: These barriers emanate from the communication networks established by organizations.