GRADE 11

Oral Communication in Context

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

 explain why there is communication breakdown
 use various strategies to avoid communication breakdown
 identify strategies used by speakers evaluate the effectiveness of an oral communication strategy
TOPIC 1: WHAT IS COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN?
Communication breakdown, as defined by Emily Rodgers in her online article, “is a failure to exchange information,
resulting in a lack of communication.”
What does “lack of communication” mean? To answer that question let us look at the examples of communication
breakdown in the workplace or in any given communication scenario as provided by Rodgers .
1. A staff member making a mistake due to miscommunication or not enough information given in training. In the
classroom context, you as a learner, may make mistake in doing your task because of miscommunication or lack of
information
2. Two members of staff doing the same task and not realizing. In the classroom context, it could be two members in
the group make a duplication of activity and leave out one task undone instead.
3. A colleague not treating a client correctly. A classroom officer showing unfair treatment to one classmate for his/her
attitude/appearance for instance, may cause misunderstanding among students.
4. Certain vital tasks not being completed either on time or to the highest standard because no one in the team is
giving updates to each other. This happens most of the time in the classroom when members in a group do not try to
communicate, express themselves, or reach out to one another.
5. An overworked manager sending an email missing vital information to their team because they’ve got a client on
their case about completing work. A group leader or SSG president, for example, may fail to disseminate important
announcement to the class because he/she is pressured to finish another task.
6. A junior spreading Chinese whispers about the current state of a project’s completion because they misheard
what their manager was saying. In a classroom scenario, student A tells student B that Student C may not be able to
graduate but student A is not so sure about it because he/she only overheard a conversation of her teachers. The act of
spreading the “talk” is called gossiping. Passing on wrong information may result to communication breakdown.
According to Rodgers, communication has a great impact to a team. So if you expect to have a successful class, a team,
a group work - it requires communication that is “well-oiled machine to individual parts that simply cannot function
without each other” between you and the one you are communicating with or among members of the group.

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9. Dysfunctional feedbacks
Ignoring or not responding to a suggestion or query quickly undermines effective communication. Interrupting others
while they are talking also creates a poor atmosphere for communication.

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TOPIC 3: EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
 Loss of morale
When you experience communication breakdown, there is a tendency that your sense of purpose, and
enthusiasm towards the task, may also be affected.
 Demotivation
Communication breakdown results to weakening or even loss of one’s motivation to do what you are supposed
to do.
 Embarrassment
A person who has experienced communication breakdown with his team or is the cause of the communication
barrier will eventually feel guilty and incompetent over that failure and will feel haunted by that
embarrassment.
 Anger
Communication breakdown is so annoying that anyone involved can get into serious trouble.
 Tension among the team
Everybody in the team gets affected when communication breakdown strikes. Chances are people will be
pointing fingers to one another. The question here is who’s to be blamed? No one. Everyone in the team is
responsible and is equally important in solving the problem.
 Stress caused to individuals
Communication breakdown does not only affect the one who caused it but equally, it affects the person who
received the message but failed to understand.
 Loss of clients, business and sales (or friends/relationships)
Communication breakdown is really harmful. It will not only break relationships, it can even do worse. It means
losing people who trust you and whom you trust. Now, you don’t want that to happen, do you?
 Disorganization
Nothing goes right when a communication breakdown occurs. Things, situations, relationships just fall apart and
for all you know, you are facing broken pieces. Don’t wait for that to happen. Do something before things got
shattered because of careless communication.
 Gossip
When communication goes out of control, rumors begin to spread like a virus. Wrong information breaks out
and spread faster than the truth that’s why treat communication with proper care. Communicate properly and
honestly.
TOPIC 4: 5 WAYS TO RESOLVE A COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN (Rodgers)
These are simple things to do to ensure communication is never a problem
1. Observe
Take the time to observe how each member of your team works, talk to them in regular one-to-ones, and discuss how
best they like to receive information, relating to their job role, and then how they feel they can best use this
information for others.
2. Options
Whether giving your team another computer-based tool, introducing more huddles and meetings, encouraging them to
pick up the phone more, or urging them to physically walk round to a person’s desk, giving them communicative
options will help them feel less trapped in the restrictive vices of the email world.
3. Sharing is caring
Updates, updates, updates! Site-wide updates are vital for keeping everyone in the know. This is within reason. Don’t
rely on email for this. Meeting and discussion with the team are important.. Your team members deserve transparency.
4. Practice makes perfect
Providing consistent training sessions on how and why we communicate, the best way to write an email,
communicating with everyone or with the whole class or team and how to give feedback in the most effective way will

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lift communication breakdowns the more you do them. Training are also a great way to bring groups/ class together
who may not already be in direct contact with each other, building morale through one shared goal.
5. One team, one dream
If you resolve a communication breakdown and teach your team the value of communication, the benefits abound.
Good communication builds a strong team that people want to engage in, it streamlines work processes, it equips
individuals with the tools to take on anything that’s thrown at them and ultimately makes whatever you are doing, a
success.
Those mentioned above are generally found in the following strategies in communication on how to overcome
barriers:
1. Active Listening
Active listening is a skill that can be acquired and improved with practice. However, this skill can be difficult to achieve
and will, therefore, take time and delay. 'Active listening' means actively listening or fully focusing on what is being said
rather than just 'hearing' the message of the speaker.
Active listening involves listening with all senses. There are both verbal and non-verbal indicators that convey active
listening. Non-verbal signs include smiling (if appropriate), making eye contact, nodding at appropriate times, and
avoiding interruptions. These non-verbal cues relay the message that you are interested in what the speaker has to say,
and that your attention is fully invested. Giving verbal signs of active listening can also be meaningful. Paraphrasing
involves looking for slightly different terms to repeat the main idea of the speaker and is also a great way to show
active listening.
2. Use Common Language
It is important to consider the audience that you are speaking to and use language that can be easily understood.
Avoid using unfamiliar terminology or jargon when speaking to clients and their families. An important tool to use
when speaking is to stop occasionally and ask questions to ensure that your message is being understood as intended.
3. Give Constructive Response
While the response that you give the speaker/sender may occasionally be negative, it is important that it be
constructive in nature. The goal of the feedback should be to further the abilities of the speaker. This will bond the
interpersonal relationship, and enhance future communications.
4. Focus on the issue, not the speaker
Try not to take all personally, and similarly, express your own wants and opinions in terms of the job at hand. Solve
problems rather than attempt to manipulate others.
5. Be genuine rather than control.
Be yourself, openly, and honestly. Be honest with yourself, and center on working well with the persons around you,
and acting with integrity.
6. Empathize rather than remain alone.
Although professional relationships entail some borders when it comes to interaction with colleagues, it is important to
show sensitivity and to really care about the people you work with. If you don't care about them, it will be difficult for
them to care about you when it comes to being together.
7. Be patient towards others.
Allow for other points of view, and be liberated to other ways of doing things. Diversity affects creativity and
innovation.
8. You have to promote yourself and your own experiences.
Be strong about your own rights and needs. Undervaluing yourself motivates others to undervalue you, too.

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