To continue on with our ability to communicate here are some specific RECEIVERS barriers
HEARING WHAT YOU WANT OR EXPECT TO HEAR – a conflict between the intent of the sender and the interpretation of the receiver. The forces within the sender play an important part in this breakdown, if we are expecting to hear bad news as in the “come to my office first thing Monday” scenario above we may react to what we thought was going to happen rather that what we actually are told.
UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT FACTS – especially those that disagree with our preconceptions about a situation, person or they we either they or we have of way of doing things.
EVALUATING THE SOURCE – the identity of the sender poses some questions. Is s/he acceptable to the receiver? Is s/he a reliable source? What is the relationship between the sender and the receiver? Will you respect a message from a boss more readily than a colleague from another department?
DIFFERING PERCEPTIONS – words, actions and events are perceived in the light of the receiver’s individual values and environmental pressures. Differences in academic levels, religious beliefs, customs and traditions are also responsible for differing perceptions.
DIFFERENCE IN STATUS – the ultimate success or failure of an interchange depends on whether the supervisor – subordinate relationship has been established and whether the status arrangement is accepted by either or both individuals and to some extent even other parties.
SENDER NOT SAYING IT RIGHT – different words mean different things to different people. The meaning varies with age, local/foreign and the relationship between communicators as I mentioned earlier. Watch out for the jargon, abbreviations and acronyms, if they are thrown at us sometimes we let it slide because we don’t want to be seen as unknowing or dumb. As a receiver of a message we must seek clarification on the spot. Negative or inflammatory word/statements and the use of a harsh tone or aggressive body language can also bring about negative reactions and cloud the message and the receiver’s ability to comprehend the substance.
ASSUME TOO MUCH – senders tend to take things for granted or think that others can read their minds. At times they are influenced by hearsay and generalization and they tend to jump to conclusions. Often when as some call it they have ‘light ears” a sender can be governed by spin rather than facts and of course so can we be as listeners.
EFFECTS OF EMOTION – whatever emotion dominates our mood – anger, fear or even happiness – will affect our interpretation of a message. Recent studies show that an individual in love will see the entire world as positive and lovable.
INCORRECT FILTER – in order to function effectively, as receivers we must “filter out” many of the messages (clutter) received in a day. No person could respond to every sound or gesture even if s/he were aware of all of them. Sometimes, in the process of filtering out the irrelevant CLUTTER the relevant is also lost
Ric (orglearn) While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!
ps Based on an old however still relevant training material original list source unknown.
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