Internal Communication Barriers: 4 Common Causes
Introduction
Effective internal communication is crucial for the smooth functioning of any organization. However, despite its importance, many businesses encounter barriers that hinder communication among employees. In this article, we’ll explore four common causes of internal communication barriers and how they can impact organizational success.
1. Not familiar with other departments and divisions
A common case in stove-piped organizations is that “we don’t know much about other departments” due to a lack of communication with them. This tends to occur when the hurdles to cooperation are high because there is no understanding of what other departments are doing, their busy seasons, and their schedules. If this situation persists for a long time, opportunities for collaboration become even more remote, creating a vicious cycle.
It is also important to realize that this view of other departments is also true when other departments look at their departments. It is important to be aware of the importance of communication that is easy to understand and easy for the other departments to contact.
2. Management philosophy and goals are not shared within the company
If the company’s vision is not shared among employees, it is easy to end up in a situation where one’s department is given top priority. Even within the same company, different departments may have their interests, and a larger overall vision is essential to overcome such conflicts. Only when there is an awareness of the need to help each other can mutual communication be said to permeate the company.
The overall vision also affects the sharing of values among employees. It is important to make employees aware of the philosophy and goals so that workers can fulfill their respective roles and be connected beyond them.
3. Interests are not aligned among departments
When a broad vision of management is not pervasive, the priorities of interests among departments may take precedence over others. Under these circumstances, it is important to note that communication tends to be less active when the interests of the departments are not aligned.
It is common for a lack of alignment of mutual interests to prevent fruitful discussions, leading to hostile feelings.
4. Leadership that can lead across departments does not exist
As mentioned above, when it is difficult to coordinate interests across departments, it is also hard to come up with a cross-functional coordinator. This is due not only to the lack of understanding of the need for collaboration but also to the fact that no one can evaluate the benefits of coordinating the interests of different departments.
If a tendency to not value the implementation of such efforts spreads, it will create a negative spiral that makes it even more difficult to communicate. Thus, reflecting this in the internal evaluation system will also help build a strong organization.
Summary
As an organization grows in size, communication between departments tends to stagnate. This can lead to a rigid organization and requires a proactive response. In many cases, sectionalism that places the highest priority on the results of one’s department often leads to inefficiency when viewed as a whole. While maintaining a broad perspective, it is necessary to create a system that allows mutual support between departments, thereby revitalizing the organization.
In this article, we have explained the four common reasons why communication between departments does not work. We hope that you will apply this information to your case and use it as a countermeasure.
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