by Scott Gowing

Created on: September 17, 2010

The importance of communication is often taken for taken for granted. After all in the modern age technology has connected the world like never before. However, despite all this technology to enhance communication effective communication is still difficult to achieve.

Effective communication is so hard to achieve for a variety of reasons.  One is fear, people are often afraid to express themselves because they do not know what others reaction will be.  Nobody wants to be the one to say something that offends someone or upsets the status quo, especially in a professional environment.  Often times the outspoken one alienates themselves and this could cost them professional advancement.  Some people are afraid to be ridiculed by others.  Self doubt also has a major impact on communication.  If someone is not confident with themselves then they will have a harder time placing themselves in a position that will expose their lack of expertise or other vulnerabilities.

Priorities and experience are also other possibilities for a breakdown in communication.  Often the objectives of one individual may not align with that of another.  In this case communication is lost because it did not fit the mold that the other person was accustomed to.  People often tend to communicate best with people with common beliefs and assertions because it reinforces their own ideas and values.  It is hard for a person to effectively communicate with others if they do not understand them.  Understanding and being able to put ourselves in others shoes is probably one of the most significant reasons that there is a breakdown in communication. People that have trouble relating to others ideas may find themselves dismissing others opinions and arguments especially if they are contradictory to the notions of truth that they hold true.

Life experience often impacts how a person communicates.  People develop opinions and behaviors on what they know and the environment they were brought up in.  Things like religion background, family structure, and culture will have a significant impact on how people communicate.  Even regions in the same country often use language differently even if the language is common.  I remember the first time I was in the south I had trouble understanding some of the things I heard even though they were speaking the same language.  These barriers often make it hard to effectively communicate. 

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