Issues Affecting Communication Communication Concept

Scenario Illustrating Ineffective Communication

Solution for Effective Communication

Sample

Downward communication

In a meeting with some but not all employees, the chief orally announced immediate changes in procedures. The presentation was confusing and left more questions than answers and employees not in attendance did not receive the information.

Best practice: “Written communication is generally the most reliable mode for complex communication” (Robbins & Judge, 2017). A detailed addition to the operating procedure manual was prepared before the changes took effect. The chief provided training to supervisors to prepare them for fielding questions and ensuring adherence to the policy

1

Emails

A superior’s email to his/her subordinate contains the vague subject line “meeting”. As the recipient has to attend two or more meetings, he/she is unable to comprehend which meeting the supervisor is referring to (Griffin, 2006).

Vague emails can lead to distorted information. Hence, emails need to be clearly and succinctly composed (Griffin, 2006).

2

Language level

An employee utilizes excessive professional jargon in a PowerPoint presentation causing an audience unfamiliar with such language to lose interest (Griffin, 2006).

Personnel ought to prefer using language that others easily understand (Griffin, 2006).

3

Skill

A supervisor speaks too fast in a meeting, leaving several employees with poor cognitive skills confused (Griffin, 2006).

Speakers need to apply skills which are in line with the audience’s level for ensuring comprehension (Griffin, 2006).

4

Attitudes: 

A manager with a biased attitude towards a particular worker is highly judgmental when...

The worker in question receives the mail too late to take necessary action.
 This happens when outdated or inefficient communication tools are utilized. Effective communication necessitates an updated, appropriate channel (Griffin, 2006).

6

Sender

A superior announces a new plan which he subsequently cancels. This news of cancellation is only communicated to a junior worker who starts spreading the news. Such ambiguity causes confusion and frustrates the workforce (Griffin, 2006).

Important organizational information ought to be communicated via a proper channel and not informally (Griffin, 2006).

7

Language barrier

A manager uses regional colloquialism when communicating with an employee from another country. The employee is unable to grasp the manager’s message (Berkenkotter & Huckin, 2016).

In a multicultural work setting, use of regional colloquialisms may cause confusion and even hurt among overseas employees. Simple language understandable by all ought to be utilized (Berkenkotter & Huckin, 2016).

8

Physiological Barriers: 

A speaker communicating with blind recievers attempts to emphasize his point with gestures (Griffin, 2006).

The sender ought to bear their audience in mind and ensure receivers clearly get the message (Berkenkotter & Huckin, 2016).

9

Assumptions and Jumping to Conclusions: 

A superior communicating via phone with a subordinate hangs up abruptly after receiving the…