12 Ways To Break Down Communication Barriers In The Workplace

When everyone is on the same page, it’s so much easier for everyone to do their job. So why is effective communication such a challenge? No matter what company you work for, there is always room for improvement when it comes to communication. When you take an active role in trying to break down communication barriers in the workplace, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results – and so will your team.

A failure to communicate is one of the fastest ways to sabotage your business. A simple comment lost in translation, a bit of feedback that didn’t make it’s way to the right person, or an email that wasn’t forwarded can cause major problems. Silly issues like this could all be solved through proper communication.

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Whether you work with only a handful of people, with a multinational corporation, or with a remote team, open, honest, and transparent communication channels are an essential part of doing business in today’s world. If you need to improve communication in the workplace, start by identifying the communication barriers that cause issues.

Communication barriers might include generational barriers, language barriers, location barriers, emotional barriers, lack of attention to details, lack of confidence, poor listening, differences in perception, industry jargon, lack of training, cultural differences, disabilities, non-verbal cues, bad attitudes, information overloads, or any number of things. When you can pinpoint the issues that cause the biggest communication problems, you can then start to address them individually.

Once you identify the main problems, apply the following tactics that can help to break down communication barriers in the workplace:

Create An Open Door Policy
Write Things Down
Follow Up
Speak Face To Face Whenever Possible
Formalize A Chain Of Command
Develop Trust
Hold Meetings
Conduct Feedback Sessions
Set Communication Protocols
Get To Know Your Team Members
Improve Listening Skills
Engage In Team Building Exercises

When you can implement these tactics into your every day office life, it will make a world of difference. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to create a positive, welcoming, and all-inclusive culture where your team members feel free to speak up and communicate properly. Do this and it can totally change the communication dynamics in your office.

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