Trainers: Barriers to Effective Communications

Communications is perhaps the most difficult aspect of being an instructor. No matter how advanced your communications skills are, there will always be barriers to effective communications. This is because there are several factors that affect the instructor's ability to send information, and the learner's ability to receive information. In this newsletter we will discuss some of the barriers and how to overcome them.

Lack of Common Core Experience

Many of us assume that the learners have a common experience that the instructor has. We tailor our lessons plans and our communication to the experience we have gained assuming the learners have the same. Instructors cannot assume a common experience we have to establish the learners experience before teaching so we can avoid analogies and explanations.

A recently instructor evaluation monitored the following exchange:

Instructor: "Power supply to the Trim Pump is 4B."

Learner: "What's 4B?"

Instructor: "It's the DC Power source"

Learner: "What's DC Power?"

It was assumed that the learners knew the basics of AC/DC power; however, it is not always the case. We do not have common experience.

Overuse of Abstractions

Abstractions are concepts, ideas or words that are not directly related to the subject being discussed. Always speak in concrete terms. Limit the use of an acronym that have become standard in our technological language, unless you are sure the learner knows these acronyms. Some learners may not understand the use of 'basic' acronyms. For instance when the instructor describes the DCPO does he mean the Duty Chief Petty Officer or the Ship's Damage Control Petty Officer?

Always use clear and precise communications. This is especially true when dealing with learners from different cultures. Using even the most basic colloquialism can be confusing.

Fear

Fear is perhaps the greatest barrier to effective communications. Learners have a fear of showing ignorance, being ridiculed, losing status and a fear of judgment.

Instructors need to build an atmosphere of mutual respect amongst learners. A threat free environment inside that classroom will ensure learners participate and contribute to class discussions.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors include the temperature of your classroom, the pictures or charts on the classroom wall, distracting noises, etc.

Some conditions in the classrooms cannot be eliminated. The noisy air conditioner required to keep the classroom cold for equipment performance has to be addressed with the learners. Inform them before hand that the lab is required to be cold and allow them to change their uniform so they are comfortable.

Build a community of respect and comfort in your classroom. This community of respect will ensure that learners provide feedback on your communications as well as the level of curriculum being taught.