Barriers to communication flashcards

Card

Language barrier?

Different first languages or heavy technical jargon.

Card

Physical/noise barrier?

Factory noise, poor phone signal, crowded open offices.

Card

Status barrier?

Staff fear contradicting senior managers.

Card

Cultural barrier?

Norms on directness, hierarchy, body language differ.

Card

Time-zone barrier?

Delayed responses across global offices.

Card

Information overload?

Too many emails — key messages ignored.

Card

Overcome jargon?

Plain language, glossaries, visual aids.

Card

Overcome status fear?

Anonymous surveys, open-door policy, no-blame culture.

Card

Define 'communication noise' in a business context.

Any interference that distorts or blocks a message during the communication process. It can be physical (e.g., loud machinery), psychological (e.g., prejudice), semantic (e.g., jargon), or technological (e.g., a poor internet connection).

Card

What is a 'status barrier' to communication?

A barrier created by differences in authority and position within an organisation's hierarchy. Subordinates may be reluctant to communicate openly or challenge superiors for fear of criticism, damaging their career prospects.

Card

Explain 'information overload' as a communication barrier.

A technological and psychological barrier where the volume of information, typically from digital channels like email, exceeds an individual's capacity to process it effectively. This leads to stress, missed messages, and poor decision-making.

Card

Provide a business example of a 'cultural barrier'.

In a high-context culture (e.g., Japan), business agreements may rely on long-term relationships and non-verbal cues. A manager from a low-context culture (e.g., Germany) who tries to finalise a deal quickly based only on explicit, written details may be perceived as untrustworthy or aggressive, causing the communication to fail.

Card

Suggest a solution to overcome language barriers in a multinational corporation.

Employ professional translators and interpreters for important meetings and documents. Use 'back-translation' (translating a translated document back to the original language) to check for accuracy. Also, encourage the use of simple, plain language and visual aids in internal communications.