Whether at home or in the workplace, communication is essential to maintain any healthy relationship. Through communication you're able to talk and listen for the bettering of your situation. Unfortunately, at times communication can be stilted or even blocked because of barriers that cause you to have a difficult time. By identifying or acknowledging the barriers for effective communication, you can find ways to remedy them for a better result.
Culture
At first glance, "culture" is often confused with "language" in communication, when both are equally disadvantageous barriers to your message. While language can certainly be a barrier to effective communication when you speak a different language than the person you're communicating with, culture can cause the same problems for two people speaking the same language. The University of Colorado Conflict Research Consortium points out that two people who speak the same language, yet use different expressions can often confuse the meaning of the message.
Listening Skills
Poor listening skills can disrupt your communication, even if you are the speaker, according to the Ohio State University Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Effective listening skills allow you to listen to your partner's words, read her body language and take her tone into consideration while communicating. It also allows you to hear concerns and brainstorm solutions while communicating. If you lack these basic listening skills, the person you're talking to could become offended or frustrated that she isn't being properly heard. Communication is a two-way street, and to be heard you must also listen.
Feedback
Consider the following scenario: you are trying to convey a point to a coworker or partner, and instead of being engaged in what you're saying, he's ignoring you or sitting wordlessly while you talk. It's not the most effective way to communicate. Without the proper amount of feedback, it can be difficult to communicate. While you cannot force someone to talk to you, issuing questions that need more than a "yes" or "no" answer could persuade someone to offer intelligent feedback.
Perception
Andrews University defines perception in communication as interpreting what is being said in your own mindset. When you already nurse preconceived notions or have ideas that have been developed without proper communication, you may be hesitant to talk. Even if your perception isn't close to reality, it is real to you which is why it can block communication. In fact, the communication can sometimes alter your perception, if you'd let it. How you think and the ideas you perceive can have an effect on how willing you are to communicate and how open you are to new ideas.
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