Page 268 - DCOM102_DMGT101_PRINCIPLES_AND_PRACTICES_OF_MANAGEMENT

Principles and Practices of Management

Notes 14.5 Overcoming Barriers to Communication

Following are some of the additional measures to overcome the barriers to communication:
1. Fostering good relationships: Strong relationships must be fostered between the employer
and employee in order to avoid misunderstandings.
2. Communication should be purposeful and directed to an individual.
3. Co-ordination between superior and subordinates
4. Avoid technical language: The specialized language should be avoided.
5. Feedback: The selective perception of receiver should be minimized through proper
feedback.
6. Accuracy: There should be accuracy in the message to be transmitted between both parties
for the communication to improve its effectiveness.
7. Clarity in message: The message to be transferred should be clear, practical accurate and
without any ambiguity.
8. Communication of organisational philosophy: Efforts have to be made in a planned way
to sensitize people with the organisational philosophy.
9. Flat organisational structure: The organisation should have clear cut and simple
organisational structure.
10. Division of labour: There should be proper division of labour between people in order to
reduce information overload and prevent delay in information transfer.
11. Organisation policies: The organisation should formulate its policies in such a way that it
will give full advantage to all members of the organisation.
12. Minimize semantic problem: People should avoid using double meaning words.
13. Use proper communication channels.

Task Analyse your and some of your friend’s behavior. What communication
skills you all lack? Suggest improvements.

Case Study Police Miscue Told in Bus Incident

ometimes a communication miscue not only embarrasses and inconveniences people,
it may also endanger lives. Such was the case one evening when police pulled over
Sa bus outside Chicago and stormed it, looking for a murder suspect (who wasn't on
the bus). The incident started with a tip-off from the murder victim's family that the
suspect might be travelling by bus from Chicago to Milwaukee. Chicago police issued a
warning to other local police as well as the state police that the suspect might be on the
bus, but to "let him pass." Then they notified the Milwaukee police, who were ready to
pick up the suspect as soon as he arrived. But Glencoe and state police interpreted the
message to mean that they should stop the bus and make an arrest.
"There wasn't anything ambiguous about it," declares Paul Harlow, director of public
safety in Glencoe. "The message was that you have a suspect who is wanted for homicide,
and that's probably in my understanding the highest priority message you can put out."
Contd...

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