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Miscommunication – Definition, Causes and How to Avoid It?
June 23, 2021 By Hitesh Bhasin Tagged With: Communication
Miscommunication is the failure to communicate adequately or not being able to express ideas or thoughts correctly. It is among many communication barriers. A miscommunicated message or word is wrongly perceived by the listeners, as they could not interpret the actual meaning of the speaker.
From our regular lives to business and professional interactions, miscommunication is one of the most prime causes that ruin relationships. A common example of miscommunication can be a situation when an employee misinterprets a to-do list. Miscommunications also arise when a client misreads a policy.
Let us dive deep into the world of miscommunication to understand what it is, why it occurs and how to avoid it-
Table of Contents
What Is Miscommunication?
Miscommunication is a situation where there is a mistake in expressing thoughts or a misperception by either of the interlocutors. The reasons for these inadequacies may be varied, but they usually result in confusion and frustration for both parties involved.
It can sometimes lead to a cascade effect that can leave the door open for conflict and other issues. Miscommunication is primarily a divergence in the thoughts of both parties that leads them to form different opinions and conclusions, thereby leading to conflict.
Causes and Remedies of Miscommunication
Remedies of Miscommunication
Most of the professional and business communication, as well as emotional-intelligence-related articles, talk about the importance of avoiding miscommunication to interpret the actual meaning of your words or sentences. Some of the causes and remedies of miscommunication issues are-
1. Psychology
The human mind is quite easily the biggest culprit of miscommunication. People tend to interpret things negatively and assume the worst-case scenario when things take an unexpected turn. Preconceived notions, stereotypes, and being judgmental also plays a role.
This is considered to be the negativity bias. One way to counter the negativity bias would be to recognize statements that can be misinterpreted wrongly and add clarifications for the same.
2. Egotistical and Unhealthy Conversations
Many conversations can revolve around people trying to one-up each other, impatiently listening so that they can speak, or make statements and arguments with the sole purpose of claiming victory in a debate and willfully ignoring any points made by others.
This can lead to a very unhealthy and heated atmosphere that can further amplify the chances of miscommunication. In such situations, being able to understand other’s perceptions and having the power of acceptance would help you. Also, speakers should be aware of the behavioral tendencies and emotional inclinations of the listener. Accordingly, they should frame their sentences.
3. Inability to Speak/Write Effectively
Some people are not very good at speaking or writing to adequately express their thoughts or ideas. An individual attempting to converse with a foreigner in the latter’s native language can offend them or confuse them.
Likewise, poorly written messages or articles can leave room for misinterpretation and incorrect assumptions. In such situations, the speaker needs to update the listener about their inefficiency in the language. Plus, they should also speak with structure by starting about the what then about why something is important and then other relevant details.
4. Jargons
Over time, in any field, buzzwords and specific terminologies are used that might also lead to miscommunication when employed in conversation with an individual who may be a newcomer in the field or simply unfamiliar with the terms.
This isn’t an issue for those who are aware of such specific terms but can be daunting for newcomers. This can be remedied by using simpler words and if at all possible, teaching the jargons to the uninitiated.
Answer:
Communication is defined as the process of understanding and sharing meaning. Here, the process is any kind of activity that does not remain constant. It changes all the time and cannot be defined.
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