Barriers may come from listeners themselves when a part of their own background interferes with their perception of the speaker or of the spoken message. Barriers may also come from any one of the elements in the communication process---that is, the sender, receiver, message, channel, environment or ineffective feedback. An unclear message caused by the static or interference on the telephone line is an obvious example of a communication barrier caused by the channel. Neither the listener nor the sender can prevent the barrier. Listening is made easier when the speaker when the speaker is able to send a message that is clear and unambiguous. It is also made easier when the listener avoids the following barriers.
Often the most significant barriers to listening are present within the listener. Some examples of barriers to listening within the listener are:
Boredom or lack of interest
The listener's dislike of the personality or physical appearance of the speaker
A desire to change rather than accept the speaker
A tendency to make early conclusions or to listen only for the pause when the speaker can be interrupted
The instruction of the listener's own values on attitudes
A tendency in the listener to judge the speaker
A willingness in the listener to hear only that part of the message they agree with
A perception by the listener that the speaker lacks credibility:
You will recognize some of these barriers, and perhaps be able to add to them from your own experiences as a listener or as an observer of another listener. Give examples of barriers to listening and their impact on the receiver. As a sender, no matter how skilled you are at speaking on communicating the message, if the receiver does not listen, then communication will fail.
Often the most significant barriers to listening are present within the listener. Some examples of barriers to listening within the listener are:
Boredom or lack of interest
The listener's dislike of the personality or physical appearance of the speaker
A desire to change rather than accept the speaker
A tendency to make early conclusions or to listen only for the pause when the speaker can be interrupted
The instruction of the listener's own values on attitudes
A tendency in the listener to judge the speaker
A willingness in the listener to hear only that part of the message they agree with
A perception by the listener that the speaker lacks credibility:
You will recognize some of these barriers, and perhaps be able to add to them from your own experiences as a listener or as an observer of another listener. Give examples of barriers to listening and their impact on the receiver. As a sender, no matter how skilled you are at speaking on communicating the message, if the receiver does not listen, then communication will fail.
