As messages are transmitted, receivers perceive them and translate them. Recall perception bias as we interpret messages differently and that often our biases can lead to two versions of the same story. Semantics and jargon can be communication barriers, because the same word often means different things to different people.

To overcome perception problems, strive for perception congruence, as you need to consider how the other person will most likely perceive the message, and try to encode and transmit it appropriately. There is a limit to the amount of information people can understand at any given time. It is a common problem because we are often presented with too much information to comprehend in a short time. To minimize information overload, send messages in a quantity that the receiver can understand. When sending an oral message, do not talk for too long without checking to be sure the receiver understands the message as you intended.

Use of an inappropriate channel can result in missed communication. For example, most young people like to text, but many older ones don’t text. Before sending a message, give careful thought to selecting the most effective channel. Noise is anything that interferes with message transmission that disturbs or confuses the receiver.