Perception as a communication barrier

Communication is the determinant factor that affects the success of a business or an organization. However an effective communication is not easily achieved due to various barriers that come in the process of communication (Kanu, 2009). Some of them include the emotional barriers, language barriers, perception barriers among others. I would like to focus my study on one of the most problematic issue towards an effective communication in business. This is perception barrier that comes about due to difference in opinion between people in a business (Holmes, 2012). The effect of perception comes about when the same message is interpreted differently by different people. Perception is dependent on several factors such as the experiences of the past, culture and personal feelings that a certain member may have (Madera, Dawson & Neal, 2014). Perception can cause damage to a business or an organization because the decisions made through the influence of perception may be biased or have other kinds of distortions. This essay will deeply discuss the issue of perception as a barrier to effective communication (Kanu, 2009).

Perception may take charge when people start stereotyping and generalizing. This is when people are overwhelmed by the tendency to see or fell what they like most. Out of it people make assumptions about a thing or a person from the simple experience they had had. Perception is also contributed by lack of enough time of investigation. This may leave out details of the circumstance that should have been considered. Misconceptions rather than facts are drawn from the misrepresentation hence becoming a barrier to an effective communication (Kanu, 2009).

When people have a distorted focus, they also tend to be subjected to this concept of perception. This is associated with negative attitudes that grow as a result of certain habits that are seen in the concerned people. Even if the positive things are noticed, people tend to lean towards the negative side of what had happened in the past. In many cases, the negative overshadows the positive.

Perception also comes about due to the experience of incongruent cues. Both the speakers and the listeners send cues. People at times fail to match the verbal and non verbal cues which bring a misinterpretation of the intended message. In this case the speakers are unable to express what they are talking about with the correct body language or expression.

Perception also gets attributed by making an assumption that all people have interpreted the message in the same way. When a message is passed across, different people tend to interpret these messages differently. Perception makes people to understand their own world. Interpretations therefore are made differently (Dam, 2016). In agreement to the message, people simply communicate that the message is within the boundaries of their perception.

Solutions to this barrier of communication are numerous though people find it hard to adapt or implement them in their daily business endeavors. However, people should consider adopting the solutions and live according to them. Perception may cause biasness and unfair judgment of the people involved (Kanu, 2009). First, one should analyze and question his or her own perceptions before making an assumption. This is accompanied by seeking other people’s views or comments on your perceptions.  Seeking other people’s comments will ensure that the actions that are taken satisfy the members who are directly or indirectly affected.

The other best way of overcoming the barrier of perception is by expecting the worst from others. This is a strategy that prepared people for anything out of those who are over or under them in terms of hierarchy in business. For instance, when an employee waits for the worst from his or her boss, he is surprised to find that boss may do something in his favor which is against his expectation. Contrary to this, one may expect appreciation for the job well done but gets surprised of how the boss reacts towards the same. This brings a disappointment (Rao.S.R., (2009).

People should focus on others by getting to know more about their knowledge on certain matters. This will bring down the issue of making assumption on people’s decision through generalizing. Seeking for clarification when a message is not clear is also an effective solution to perception (Madera, Dawson  & Neal, 2014). The speaker in this case should ensure that the listeners fully understand what was being communicated and not just assume that all have interpreted the instruction correctly.

Speakers and listeners should also aim at improving their perception (Dam, 2016). There is achieved through regular self evaluation. In this way people are able to identify the awareness barriers about the main barrier of perception. Checking oneself regularly improves honesty, and positive attitude towards others. As much as people should expect the worst from their colleagues, they should also work in ensuring that they don’t hurt others by the way they treat them. This can play an important role in eliminating the barrier of negative perception about others (Holmes, 2012).

Conclusion

Perception is a destructive barrier to effective communication and so the above recommended solutions should be considered. Speakers and listeners should aim at improving their perception, consider other people’s views, expecting the worst out of someone and giving the best service one can. Effective communication will bring harmony to the business and hence it shall succeed in all its operations.

References

Kanu, A. M. (2009). Reflections in communication: An interdisciplinary approach. Lanham: University Press of America.

Boyer O’Leary, M., Wilson, J. M., & Metiu, A. (2014). BEYOND BEING THERE: THE SYMBOLIC ROLE OF COMMUNICATION AND IDENTIFICATION IN PERCEPTIONS OF PROXIMITY TO GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED COLLEAGUES1. MIS Quarterly, 38(4), 1219-A7.