How Invisible Communication Barriers Kill Productivity

Many kinds of interferences or disturbances can confuse a message. Communication specialists call them ''noise.'' A noise is anything that competes against communication.

Obviously, if we want our communication to be effective, we have to be continually on our guard to detect such noise, whatever the source. When we find it, we must drown it out. Or better still, eliminate it altogether.

Of course, before we can overcome such barriers, from wherever they come, we must be able to recognize them. When they take the form of literal noise, they're usually easy enough to distinguish.

But what we don't appreciate enough is the plethora of forms of metaphorical noise. In the workplace, for example, we often find conflicting thoughts competing for attention.

Most business executives (and their secretaries!) are familiar with this type of scenario: the boss may call for a certain file from the filing cabinet, and be quite amazed that this simple request turns out to be so problematic.

He or she doesn't know this instruction has triggered an unexpected stimulus: ''File? Yes, I must remember to stop by the store on the way home to pick up a nail file...''

Then again, many executives fail to realize the extent to which distrust can distort messages. A manager who routinely insists that every printing order is urgent, is not too likely to find receptive ears when time really is of the essence.

Let's take a look at an incident in the working lives of two very special imaginary characters - Mr Thompson, Chief Operating Officer of a flourishing corporation, and his work supervisor, Mr Brown..

This is a day for which Mr Brown has been waiting in very keen anticipation. Why?

Our Mr Brown has been rather unhappy of late.

The economic downturn hasn't touched our company yet. Business, in fact, is booming. Mr Brown has no complaints about that, for he's a devoted worker, to say the least, and he's gratified to be a key player in his firm's success. He has never been one to panic at the prospect of hard work.

Then what's the problem? Simply this: relative to the time and energy he has invested in his job, Mr Brown is underpaid. Period.

But a few weeks ago, he took the bull by the horns.

Knocking on Mr Thompson's door, he explained that, in the long run, a hefty raise would be in the company's interest as much as his own. In return, moreover, he would be very happy to take on extra responsibilities.

Our COO seemed more than sympathetic. The vice president in charge of the budget was out of the country at that moment, but Mr Thompson promised to raise the matter immediately on the VP's return. In all probability, his consent would be a mere formality.

Today is the day that has been set down for the verdict to be delivered.

The butterflies in our supervisor's stomach give way to cautious optimism as he enters his superior's office. He has faith in the justice of his cause, and isn't Mr Thompson on his side?

''Ah, Mr Brown, good to see you!''

Mr Thompson's warm smile suddenly freezes in mid-air. His face seems to change color - or perhaps we're just imagining it?

''Ahem...Yes...'' He pauses for the proverbial two seconds that seem like an eternity. What's the matter? Has Mr Thompson, who never forgets anything, only just remembered something important?

''Look, I'm sorry, I didn't have a chance to discuss that matter with Mr Hodgkinson yet, but I have some important information in connection with our machinery problems. Can you make a note of a few things?''

But Mr Brown, the epitome of conscientiousness, is as human as the next person. He's hardly in a state for mental notes.

The kind of emotional blackout the work supervisor is now experiencing is an obstacle to effective communication as real as it's intangible.

It's no less of a barrier than the noise of a pneumatic drill punctuating the conversation of two people in the street.

Azriel Winnett is the creator of HODU.COM - YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS PORTAL. This popular website helps you to improve your communication and relationship skills in business and professional life, in the family unit and on the social scene. New material added almost daily.

---

Data Delivers Credibility

Over the past couple of days I've been setting up visitor counters, so people in another organization can accurately count the number of people who visit their event.They got the idea (and the... Read More

Magnificent Meetings - 5 Tips for Success

Your impact at meetings will determine in a big way how well you do in your career. In other words you will rise as high as your communication skills will let you. Ability... Read More

Work Life a Balancing Act

Australians are loosing their laidback, carefree reputation, as we continue to work longer hours, exercise less and neglect our leisure and family time.Recent research indicates that 67 per cent of Australian professionals spend... Read More

Problem Solving the Problem Solving Meeting

We go to meetings to share information, to report on project status, to make decisions, to get the free lunch, and because we were invited. (Sorry that I digressed). This is only a... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management ? Idea Progression

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be... Read More

How to Get the Best from Outsourcing

There's a great little article ('Business Lifeforms') on the back pages of the UK's leading management magazine, Management Today each month. It's a spoof (at least I think it is!) about... Read More

Measure for Measure

Can you imagine playing hockey without a goal? Basketball without hoops and nets? Football without a goal line? Golfing without holes or greens?There may be leagues where it doesn't matter whether anyone is... Read More

Best Practices Plan: Dissemination of a Great Idea

Good news spreads quickly News of the invention of the wheel must have traveled in every direction as quickly as horse or camel could run. Those who learned of its advantages over the... Read More

Guidelines For Conducting A Good Meeting

Okay, so you've figured out what kind of meeting is needed, you've planned well and you have all the right materials. How about the meeting itself? How can you be sure the meeting... Read More

Managing YOUR Expectations

I sit on the board of an organization and at the last meeting found myself speaking with another board member named Standolyn Robertson. Standolyn is also a business owner and our conversation was... Read More

Objects in the Mirror are Further Than They Appear

Definition From http://www.merriamwebster.com -- "Virtual: - being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted."Virtual Businesses offer Real World ProfitabilityLet's face it, most of the Fortune 500 companies are doing... Read More

Industry Analysis Section of Your business plan

Writing a Business Plan for your next entrepreneurial endeavor is crucial. You will need sufficient capital and a guide to keep you on track. One important part of any business plan is to... Read More

Take the Easy Route - Delegate

It was 2.30 am. It was cold and dark and I'd been in bed for just a half hour when the phone rang."Alarm Centre here, are you the keyholder at Balham Store, in... Read More

Bar Charts Brought to Life: Index of Interactive Information for HTML and PDF

Bar Charts and the Information ChallengeWhether one is an unknown entrepreneur or Donald Trump, an elementary school teacher or a university president, a 6th grader researching other countries or a government leader visiting... Read More

Why Saying Well Done Works

Encouraged by the recognition, Sarah Lewsiton went home from work that day, full of self-belief and wonder that she had made the leap at last. In her last job, she had always felt... Read More

Write Winning Proposals For Venture Capitalists

You need to secure money for your project. You visit venture capitalists to see if you can get that money. A venture capitalist views your project as a pure investment. A venture capitalist... Read More

Dialogue vs. Discussion

Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone is busy giving their point of view and trying to prove why they are right? Where no one is actually listening or trying to... Read More

Finding Proactive Solutions: A Key to Demonstrating Your Management Fitness

In my book Talking Points: 25 Tips for Clear, Credible Communication, Tip #17 states: "Managers and professionals in positions of responsibility got there by finding solutions to problems. They didn't rely on someone... Read More

The Inferno of the Finance Director

Sometimes, I harbour a suspicion that Dante was a Financial Director. His famous work, "The Inferno", is such an accurate description of the job that it cannot be otherwise. He is fervently hated... Read More

Focus Leads To Nonprofit Success: Is Your Organization Rowing or Drifting

Picture yourself standing on the bank of a river watching a rowing competition. Carefully watch the crews. Crewmembers dip the oars and bring them to the surface again and again in a carefully... Read More

Creativity Management ? Quality from Quantity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be... Read More

Ten Secrets of Super Successful Meeting Planners

Whoever said that being a meeting planner was easy, lied! Rather, it should be classified under the tough and demanding job category. But, along with being tough, it's also fun, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating,... Read More

Leadership: Stoking The Success Train

Everyone wants to succeed yet everyone has a different perception of what success means and what it will bring into their lives. It is a means of gaining financial freedom for some and... Read More

Top Ten Tips for Outstanding Customer Service

Remember the 80:20 rule? You may not get everything perfectly right, but getting most right will be much, much better than the majority of your competition. These Top Ten Tips for Customer Service... Read More

Innovation Management: The Quality and Quantity of the Idea Pool

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly,... Read More

Time Management Tip: Stop Micro-Managing Employees

If I was a fly on the wall what would I hear your employees say? Would it something like this? "They won't allow me to make even the simplest decisions." "The red tape... Read More

Leadership Skills Means Turnover is Not a Problem

"Ha!" you say. "For someone to make a statement like that, they obviously haven't worked in the real world and certainly have never had to run a company." Well, let me assure you.... Read More

Poly Bags and Pallet Shrouds - Just Get it Right

For many companies, procuring the right packaging, such as Poly Bags can be daunting. This is especially true of polythene bags. They come in all shapes and sizes, just about any thickness imaginable,... Read More

Satisfied Employees, A Powerful Marketing Strategy

Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies who are doing extraordinarily well. Why is it that some companies are thriving while others are barely making it? You can always blame... Read More