“Nothing is so simple that it cannot be misunderstood”
One of the key skills needed for supervisors is effective communication. Whether written or verbal, most activities rely on efficient and accurate transfer and acceptance of thoughts.
All too often this is not achieved because barriers to this communication process exist. The main barriers can be placed into three broad categories:
1. Physical barriers - stem from distance, lack of time, noise and the breakdown of mechanical communications equipment.
2. Psychological barriers - arise from personal differences in ideas between the people communicating. Emotions, social values and differences in positions in the organisation can all contribute to this type of barrier.
3. Semantic barriers - arise because words and symbols seldom have a single meaning. Many words have relative meanings and are open to interpretation by the listener. Thus high levels of production to a supervisor may mean unrealistic levels to the subordinates.
Communication problems can only have a negative, a point highlighted perfectly by Uncle Albert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mf58Yndjsw
While it may not be possible to totally eliminate all misinterpretation, there are a number of guidelines to follow that ensure interaction is as effective as possible. Remembering to adhere to them will avoid a lot of wasted effort:
• Clarify your ideas before communication
• Examine the true purpose of each communication
• Consider the total physical and human setting whenever you communicate
• Be aware of the overtone as well as the basic content of your message
• Follow up your communication
• Be sure your actions support your communication
• Seek not only to be understood, but also to understand.
For more information on communication and supervisory skills, please take a look at our Effective Supervisory Management course.
