All (170)
Personal (68)
Group (23)
Organizational (34)
Communication Barriers (53)
Accent Differences | Ambiguity |
Assuming Background Knowledge | Avoiding Difficult Conversations |
Avoiding Eye Contact | Being Aggressive |
Being Dismissive | Being Overly Critical |
Being Too Passive | Being Too Uncomfortable With Silence |
Being Unapproachable | Being Unfriendly |
Biases & Fallacies | Blaming Others |
Closed-Mindedness | Complicated Communication Processes |
Conflict | Cultural Differences |
Cultural Insensitivity | Dealing With Criticism |
Delayed Updates | Difficulty In Making Small Talk |
Disengagement | Dishonesty |
Disinformation | Disinterest |
Disorganized Communication | Disregarding Feedback |
Disregarding Personal Space | Distractions |
Distrust | Dominant Personalities Overshadowing Important Voices |
Dry & Uninteresting Communications | Dumbing Down |
Embrassing Others | Emotional Outbursts |
Emotional Presence Such as Uptight | Excessive Formality |
Excessive Informality | Excessive Negativity |
Failure to Adapt to Audience | Failure to Engage Remote Members |
Fear of Criticism | Fear of Judgment |
Fear of Public Speaking | Fear of Social Situations |
Gossip | Groupthink |
Harsh Criticism | Hearing What You Want to Hear |
Hierarchical Communication | Idiomatic Expressions |
Ignoring Nonverbal Cues | Ignoring People's Feelings |
Inaccessible Platforms | Inattentiveness |
Inconsistent Availability | Inconsistent Messaging |
Inconsistent Terminology | Industry Jargon |
Inefficient Meetings | Information Overload |
Insufficient Conflict Resolution Skills | Insufficient Follow-Up |
Interpersonal Conflict | Interruptions |
Judgmental Attitudes | Knowledge Gaps |
Lack of Accuracy & Precision | Lack of Action Items |
Lack of Clarity | Lack of Common Ground |
Lack of Communication Goals | Lack of Communication Planning |
Lack of Confidence | Lack of Consistency |
Lack of Context | Lack of Direction |
Lack of Empathy | Lack of Engagement |
Lack of Feedback | Lack of Follow-through |
Lack of Followup | Lack of Ground Rules |
Lack of Humor | Lack of Leadership |
Lack of Participation | Lack of Patience |
Lack of Preparation | Lack of Relevance |
Lack of Self-Awareness | Lack of Structure |
Lack of Transparency | Lack of Trust |
Lack of a Clear Agenda | Language Barriers |
Language Proficiency | Language Skills |
Leadership Disconnect | Misalignment of Goals |
Misinformation | Misinterpretation of Humor |
Mismanagement of Expectations | Missing Nonverbal Cues |
Needless Secrecy | Negative Body Language |
Negative Group Dynamics | Negative Politics |
Noise | Not Asking Questions |
Not Building Rapport | Not Engaging Others |
Not Reading Intentions | One-way Communication |
Outdated Knowledge | Over-explaining |
Over-reliance on Email | Overcommunication |
Overcompensating | Overcomplication |
Overemphasis on Consensus | Overemphasis on Winning Arguments |
Overgeneralization | Overly Dramatic Messaging |
Overly Dramatic Word Choice | Overly Personal Disclosures |
Overly Personal Questions | Overreliance on Technology |
Overthinking Responses | Passive-Aggressive Communication |
Personal Biases | Policy Ambiguity |
Poor Communication Skills | Poor Leadership |
Poor Listening Habits | Poor Timing |
Poor Tone | Poorly Defined Roles |
Remote Work Challenges | Rumors & Misinformation |
Rushing a Conversation | Rushing to Conclusions |
Sarcasm | Sidelining |
Siloed Departments | Stakeholder Salience Issues |
Stereotyping | Subterfuge |
Talking Over Others | Talking Too Fast or Slow |
Technical Issues | Technical Terminology |
Telling Stories In Unclear Way | Time Constraints |
Time Zone Differences | Tone of Voice |
Too Many Meetings | Unapproachable Leadership |
Unclear Communication Goals | Unclear Goals |
Underthinking Responses | Unjustified Assumptions |
Using Complex Language | Using Filler Words Excessively |
Using Negative Language | Using Ultimatums |
Vague Objectives | Vagueness |
Visual Distractions | Wrong Communication Channels |
Personal Communication Problems
Communication is a deep skill whereby there are great differences in talent from one person to the next. People, languages, social situations, politics, cultures and relationships are all complex such that communication is not easy. The following common challenges.- Skill shortfall whereby you can't do what you would like to do. For example, you imagine yourself giving a great presentation but it ends up muddled and confusing.
- Lacking confidence in certain situations such as public speaking.
- Personal presence issues whereby you're not perceived the way you'd like to be perceived.
- Rapport issues such as ignoring people's feelings or being too serious all the time.
- Emotion related issues such as allowing others to derail your emotional state.
- Troubles reading or navigating social situations.
- Not reading elements of communication such as the intent, motivations and emotions of others.
- Not listening to others or getting distracted when you yourself are speaking.
- Storytelling problems such as telling confusing stories.
- Not using humor or not getting it.
- Self-awareness and monitoring how you are being perceived.
Group Communication Problems
Groups represent a social environment whereby communication behaviors can shift. For example, group members may not say what they really think in order to avoid criticism. In many cases, the decisions made by groups reflect the social dynamics of the group as opposed to a truly optimal or even rational decision. The following are common group communication problems:- A few people often dominate the conversation.
- Group members may be intentionally vague or say things that lack content because they fear criticism.
- A lack of clear goals.
- Excessive consensus seeking whereby leadership might be more efficient at making a rational decision quickly.
- Interpersonal conflict and political environments where communication is focused on positioning over solving actual problems.
- Stakeholder salience issues whereby the most vocal members may not have much vested interest in the problem being discussed.
Organizational Communication Issues
Organizations use communication to coordinate efforts across many people. Where this fails an organization is likely to be inefficient. The following are common challenges.- Lack of transparency, needless secrecy and information silos.
- Inefficient and excessive communication.
- Slow communication such that rumors front-run announcements.
- Leadership that is disconnected from reality.
- A lack of consistency and the sense that the organization rarely does what it says it will do.
- Disengaged employees.
- A lack of feedback or follow-up to feedback.
Communication Barriers
Communication barriers are general communication issues that can impact across an entire society.- Noise and information overload.
- Biases and stereotyping.
- Attitudes and perceptions such as a lack of trust.
- Dumbing down, meaningless filler words and communication with little or no actual content.
- A tendency to copy what other people say.
- Invalid assumptions.
- The use of obscure jargon or overly complex language.
