GEPC – PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

Week 06 – Day 02

TOPIC: COMMUNICATION FOR WORK PURPOSES

LESSON 2: BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE

Objective:
At the end of this chapter, you are expected to:
✔ distinguish the barriers of communication in the workplace.

PREACTIVITY: Read the given readings below.

"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens, we have to keep
going back and beginning all over again."

-André Gide
(French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947)

The flow of effective communication may be hindered when the intended message
is not properly channeled. There are various reasons why communication breakdown
occurs, and this may be attributed to lengthy or disorganized messages, complex or
ambiguous language, and inconsistent verbal and nonverbal cues. All these may
contribute to the distortion of messages which may result in confusion and
misunderstanding. It is therefore crucial for a speaker to be clear in his or her message.
Additionally, the speaker should also be aware of certain barriers to communication in the
workplace in order to avoid further communication gaps.

What are barriers to communication in the workplace?

According to Leigh Richards there are many barriers to communication that exist in
any organization, but some are more pervasive and more common than others. Barriers
can be environmental or personal and may include such things as noise (real or internal),
bias, cultural differences or even differences in roles, or levels of authority, within the
organization.

1. Noise
Noise can be either internal or external. Internal noise represents the internal self-
talking that we all do. External noise can include other conversations, traffic noise or
anything that interferes with our ability to maintain focus.
2. Culture
Culture can represent a barrier to communication when it keeps communication from
happening or when employees communicate the information and input they feel they are
expected to communicate, and not what they really believe.

3. Role
Role conflicts can create barriers to communication in organizations, particularly when
they involve interactions between subordinates and superiors.

4. Bias
Biases can be based on our preconceived beliefs (e.g., millennials don't respond well
to criticism) or based on impressions we form of people as we interact with them.
5. Misinterpretation
It is important to be sure that the meaning behind your communication is clearly and
accurately understood. When in doubt, ask for clarification
(http://smallbusiness.chron.com).

How does one overcome communication barriers in the workplace?

Barriers are inevitable; hence, in order to work well in a team and in a company, you
need to listen properly, avoid jargons, keep an open mind and be aware of cultural
differences.

A Communication Tool in the Workplace

We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve. - Bill Gates
Feedback, according to Keyton (2000), is any information that individuals receive about
their behavior. As Liebler and McConnel (2004) explain, it can also be in activities like
market research, client surveys, accreditation, and employee evaluation. Feedback should
not be viewed as a negative process, instead it should be used as a strategy to enhance
goals, awareness, and learning (Liebler & McConnel, 2004). Forms of Feedback with
Different Intent Keyton (2000) identify the forms of feedback with different intent as
descriptive feedback, evaluative feedback, and prescriptive feedback.

1. Descriptive Feedback
● A feedback that identifies or describes how a person communicates.
2. Evaluative Feedback
● A feedback that provides an assessment of the person communicates.
3. Prescriptive Feedback
● A feedback that provides advice about how one should behave or communicate.
Four Levels of Feedback According to Keyton (2000), there are four levels of feedback:
task or procedural feedback, relational feedback, individual feedback and group feedback.
1. Task or Procedural Feedback
● This level involves issues of effectiveness and appropriateness; specific issues
include the quantity or quality of a group output.

2.Relational Feedback
● This level provides information about interpersonal dynamics within group.
3. Individual Feedback
● This level provides feedback that focuses on a particular individual in a group.
4. Group Feedback
● This level provides feedback that focuses on how well the group is performing.

ACTIVITY 2: “YOUR VOICE” (10 PTS)

I. Instruction: Select a piece of writing or article from a website, newspaper, and

magazine. Write at least one sentence of feedback for each of the aforesaid materials.
Assess if you find one type of feedback easier to give than another. If you were the author,
how would you feel receiving this feedback?

Website: Increased intelligence is a myth (so far) – title

Feedback: “It could be better if the words being used were aligned to the target audience
of the writings, as some of the words written were jargon to the general public.”
Assessment: Among all the three types of literary writing that I analyzed, this is the easiest
one when it comes to giving feedback. As it is much easier to locate and check the
information needed as it is in internet or it was published online making it more accessible.
If I were the author of the said article and was able to read the feedback stated above, I
would not take it personally instead I’ll use it to be more careful when it comes to choices of
word most especially if the article that I am using is for general public. Most of the time,
authors need to know the feedback of the reader for them to develop their skills more and
also adjust the factors that need to be adjusted in order to effectively reach their target
audience.

Newspaper: AGRESIBONG INFO DRIVE KONTRA HIV/AIDS KAILANGAN NA (From

Amianan Balita Ngayon newspaper – editorial section)
Feedback: The editorial piece is informative and entertaining at the same time. However,
the writer used abbreviation that can mislead or misunderstood by the audience. Though
the topic was a bit sensitive and alarming, the author manage to put it into writings that will
not offend nor hurt anyone.
Assessment: This is the second article that I found easiest to provide feedback with, as the
article is written in vernacular or in Filipino it is much easier to understand and check if
there are some adjustments or room for improvements. If I were the author of the said
 article and was able to read the feedback given above, I will be glad as my article was
considered as informative and entertaining at the same time, as the way of the writing is
also more on entertaining while giving necessary data in order to get the attention of the
community about the topic. Apart from that, I will also be glad as I was able to deliver my
thoughts, opinions, and also my objectives through writing without hurting anyone just like
what stated on the feedback, as this kind of topic is a bit sensitive most especially to those
who have it.
Magazine: The happiest day of your life? (From Learn English Teens Magazine)
Feedback: The article is very entertaining and it is motivating at the same time, it can be
recommended to the people who are currently having a self-doubt or low self – confidence.
Assessment: This is hardest piece when it comes to giving feedback, as most of the
magazine were designed to entertain the general public. However, this piece is not only
about entertaining as the tone of it is more on serious side providing advices to people and
also encouraging them to make the most of it every day in their life. Hence, I found it
confusing that this kind of writing is visible inside a magazine that tackles about lifestyle of
a teen. Moving forward, if I were the author of the said article, I will be happy that my
audience find my writings as something that is very helpful for those people who have self
– doubt and such, as that is the primary objectives of the writing, not only to educate the
people but also to motivate them to become the best version of themselves.

ACTIVITY 1: CASE STUDY! (20 PTS)

Instruction: Read each situation below and distinguish the barriers exemplified then
give suggestions on how to reduce those barriers.

Situation #1

You arrived at your workstation not feeling well. Your boss has asked you to
print and prepare tons of paperwork for the conference this afternoon. You simply
nodded and turned away without saying anything. Your response irritated your
supervisor.

What are the barrier/s present in the situation?

- Upon double checking and also analyzing the given scenario above it shows
that the barriers are culture, role and misinterpretation. Culture because it is
given in the Filipino setting that if someone superior that you ask you to do
something you should communicate and agree to them verbally, this kind of
setting is very visible inside a Filipino family set-up, and if you failed to answer
or agree to the given task verbally, it shows that you don’t want to do it or
you’re just forced to do it. Next is the role, since it is the supervisor who provide
 all the task, he/she is expecting for his subordinates to do it and agree to do it
as it is their responsibility to follow the lead or command of the superior, given
the situation wherein the subordinates only “nodded” it may show disrespect to
his/her position. And lastly is misunderstanding, since I, being the subordinate,
failed to inform my boss that I am not feeling well and was not in mood to talk
that much, leading to misunderstanding that I do not want to do the given task
or I am just forced to finish or do it.

What efforts or suggestions can you do to reduce the barrier/s?

- Analyzing the scenario, both parties have lapses as they failed to understand
each other. The following are some of the suggestions that can help to reduce
the barriers: First, it could have been better if the boss, knowing that he/she is
the superior ask if his/her subordinates feeling or condition in order to
understand their actions and the way they communicate. That instead of being
irritated easily, it would be better if the boss tried to understand the situation of
his/her subordinates by asking, as communication is always a good solution for
misunderstanding. Second, knowing that we have this culture in our country
that we should response in every task given, it could have been better if the
subordinate tries his/her very best to answer the boss or agreeing about the
given task. And lastly, the subordinates also inform her superior that she is not
feeling well so that her boss will know and understand her situation. Both sides
are wrong as they failed to pro-actively ask, empathize, and understand the
situation of both sides.

Situation #2

You are a Mental Health Worker, and the vast majority of the people you
serve are those who are underserved. You encountered difficulties in providing
services because the community mistook your division for Social Services. Another
issue is that the community is hesitant to accept mental health services due to the
negative stigma associated with them.

What are the barrier/s present in the situation?

- There are four barriers that are sensible in the scenario given above, and those
are the following: First is the culture, as what mentioned on the scenario given
above it shows that most of the people are underserved, meaning to say they
are not culturally prepared in receiving mental care services, making it one of
the barriers. Next is Role, the role of the mental service provider is also a
barrier as it hinders the servant in performing her duty. Third is the bias, it was
already mentioned in the scenario that there’s a stigma associated to the
mental health worker, making the decision of the community more biased. And
lastly is the misinterpretation, since there is negative stigma about mental
health worker, a misinterpretation between the both sides affect their
 communication, making it as one of the barriers.

What efforts or suggestions can you do to reduce the barrier/s?

- It is really hard to cope up with a close – minded individual most especially
when they believe for a false information or negative beliefs for a long period of
time. Hence, the following are some of the efforts that can be done in order to
reduce the barriers and make an effective communication between the both
parties: First is, the mental health worker should be friend with the community
first, this could be done through constant communication with them. She
should not force the community to receive the mental care service that she is
offering whilst their still doubt in the community as it will just be rejected.
Second, while getting the trust of the people, she should gradually inform them
about the importance of the mental health but this could be done in a very
casual way, like talking to the community or telling story to them. Little by little it
will help them to understand what it is all about. And lastly, converse with the
youth of the community, as they are the next generation that will be living
there. When the youth are well – aware about the situation, they will be more
open – minded in accepting the said services.

References (APA format) 6th edition

Books

Magan, R., Nano, MC., & Turano, C. (2018). Purposive communication in the 21 st
century. Mindshapers Co., Inc

Mariano M. Ariola, (2018). Purposive Communication. Unlimited Books Library Services

& Publishing Inc.

Shea, V. (1994). Netiquette. San Francisco, CA: Albion Books.

Noveck, J. (2009, June). Jackson death was twittered, texted, and Facebooked.

Prochaska, J., & DiClemente, C. (1982). Transtheoretical therapy: Toward a more

 integrative model of change. Psychotherapy: Theory,

Journal Articles

Adapted from https://etraining.communitydoor.org.austro

Adapted from http://www.managementstudyguide.com

Adapted from http://open.lib.umn.edu

Adapted from http://smallbusiness.chron.com

Research, and Practice, 19(3), 276-288.

Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_ot/us/michael

jackson_the_media_moment

Retrieved from http://open.lib.umn.edu/businesscommunication/chapter/15-3 meetings/