Barriers to Effective Communication Paper
Barriers to Effective Communication Paper
Tametrius Walker
Mrs. Alsup
CJA 363
February 2, 2011
In this paper I will be discussing the process of communication and its components, discuss the difference between listening and hearing in communication, talk about the formal and informal channels of communication, talk about the different barriers to effective communication, and lastly discuss the strategies that may be implemented to overcome communication barriers.
Communication is very crucial in the criminal justice system; it is the key element for success. From a rookie all the way up to a chief, every police officer must be able to speak, listen, and understand without excuses. There is no room for poor communication in the criminal justice system, because it is a waste of time and a waste of everyone’s energy. An author named A. Richard in 1928 gave the best definition of communication he said, “Communication takes place when one mind acts upon its environment and that another mind is influenced. In that other mind an experience occurs just like the experience in the first mind, and is caused by that experience” [(Wallace, 2009)]. Communication is not an isolated event, it is a process. It is five steps that the communication process contains and it is transmitting an idea, sending the idea through a medium, receiving the message, understanding the idea, and providing feedback to the message sender. The communication process becomes flawed, when failure occurs during any of the five steps, and the information that is at hand will not flow in a smooth and accurate manner. The first step to communication is transmitting an idea. This step is the information of several thoughts and the desire to express the ideas. Sending the idea through a medium, which is the second step means that the message needs to be sent once it is formed. Transmitting an idea can be done in writing, orally, or by action. Each method is interpreted in a different way, no matter
Tametrius Walker
Mrs. Alsup
CJA 363
February 2, 2011
In this paper I will be discussing the process of communication and its components, discuss the difference between listening and hearing in communication, talk about the formal and informal channels of communication, talk about the different barriers to effective communication, and lastly discuss the strategies that may be implemented to overcome communication barriers.
Communication is very crucial in the criminal justice system; it is the key element for success. From a rookie all the way up to a chief, every police officer must be able to speak, listen, and understand without excuses. There is no room for poor communication in the criminal justice system, because it is a waste of time and a waste of everyone’s energy. An author named A. Richard in 1928 gave the best definition of communication he said, “Communication takes place when one mind acts upon its environment and that another mind is influenced. In that other mind an experience occurs just like the experience in the first mind, and is caused by that experience” [(Wallace, 2009)]. Communication is not an isolated event, it is a process. It is five steps that the communication process contains and it is transmitting an idea, sending the idea through a medium, receiving the message, understanding the idea, and providing feedback to the message sender. The communication process becomes flawed, when failure occurs during any of the five steps, and the information that is at hand will not flow in a smooth and accurate manner. The first step to communication is transmitting an idea. This step is the information of several thoughts and the desire to express the ideas. Sending the idea through a medium, which is the second step means that the message needs to be sent once it is formed. Transmitting an idea can be done in writing, orally, or by action. Each method is interpreted in a different way, no matter