Virtual Collaboration, Barriers to Communication

Do some research and answer the following critical thinking questions from this week’s readings. In your analysis, cite a minimum of three (3) references from different sources (the textbook can be one source).Two business people meeting with another business person shown on a computer monitor.

Advances in technology are making it easier than ever for people to collaborate, even when they are dispersed globally. Discuss how you could manage potential conflict within your team over the fact that not all members will have the same knowledge of the English language.
Compare how the stages of group development might be different for virtual teams compared to traditional face-to-face teams. What would be some of your recommendations for dealing with the differences in group stages of development in virtual teams?
Identify and summarize the five barriers to communication. Then, assume you are communicating with someone who has an oversized ego. What actions could you take to increase the effectiveness of your communication with this person?
Your submission should be a minimum of two (2), double-spaced, full pages of analysis with proper reference citation per current APA guidelines.

ANSWER

Virtual Collaboration, Barriers to Communication

Barriers to Communication

Advancements in technology such as virtual teleconferencing software that includes Dropbox lets facilitates the growth of business entities. Language may, in most cases, be considered as a hindrance to efficiency as diverse cultural aspects may be misunderstood due to inappropriate utilization of a dialect. Personnel may not require to be scattered globally for there to be a language problem within a workstation. Immigration may have a similar impact of resulting in significant barriers in language. As a manager, it may be challenging to sympathize with an employee that faces language barriers despite being aware of the language for long periods.   Nonetheless, this does not alter the fact that it is a problem that requires much-needed attention.

One method of addressing language barriers is translating every written material to the native languages (Kinicki & Williams, 2018).  There are numerous websites and computer software applications that may assist in translation.  Nonetheless, this technique may not be entirely efficient. There are numerous diverse languages globally. This signifies that documents translated to other native languages may similarly be reserved in English as they may still fail to understand them. My approach towards solving conflicts in the organization would be investing in Rosetta stone software for every employee and providing a timeframe to study a particular language. I do not trust that personnel that faces a challenge with learning a new dialect should be dismissed. However, personnel should not be positioned in jobs that may entail communication with foreign nations.

 Virtual teams compared to traditional face-to-face groups.

According to the Ground report (2016), there are five phases of a group and team development. They include forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Due to technology, the conventional face-to-face team is likely to experience diverse challenges compared to a virtual team. Every team bears the pros and cons.  However, a conventional face-to-face mechanism may be considered as an efficient model for the organization.  In the forming stage, it involves unifying the group. It may be predominantly challenging for the virtual team compared to conventional units.

When developing a group, being conversant is part of the procedure. It may be challenging to integrate every individual within a virtual team due to location, differences in time zones, and technology challenges. It’s considered the testing phase within the storming stage as personnel assesses the leader’s policies and assumptions.   Within the conventional team, it may be easier to collaborate. Within the virtual team, co-workers are likely to get distracted. It is easier for a conventional team to convene frequently, but virtual teams might be achievable.  The norming stage entails relationship growth and enhancing cohesiveness. In a traditional group, workers may meet outside the working environment and deliberate on plans and collaborating on specific topics.  However, in virtual teams, there is an increasing likelihood of losing out on the team and reducing cohesiveness.

In the performing stage, every team utilizes problem-solving skills to solve issues and completing the assigned tasks. This phase may be challenging for virtual teams as communication can be overwhelmingly attributed to long-distance and time variances. In a conventional group, team members may convene and exchange data and aid in breaking down any subjects and letting team members share the common objectives. In the adjournment stage, it is considered a vital phase that eases group disbandment transition. This phase is ideal for the conventional face to face teams as they can reflect on the accomplishments. For virtual teams, it is challenging to be close as expected. One way of enhancing the adjournment stage may involve sending out customized letters that let every member know they are appreciated.

Five Barriers to Communication

There are five diverse forms communication barriers. Foremost, one of the significant obstacles involves language. If employees fail to understand each other, their likelihood of conveying thought and concepts is significantly reduced. Another significant barrier is the cultural aspect.  Cultural diversities may lead to clashing within team members or prospective clients. A corporation can irreparably lessen the client’s interests if employees fail to understand their cultural convictions.

Moreover, managers should be aware of the cultural diversities in the team. Another significant barrier involves gender. Due to the psychological variances, misunderstandings are likely to happen, and managers, employees, and clients need to comprehend the variances. Another barrier to communication entails the psychological aspect. Ego has an enormous effect on an individual’s personality. If an individual with an enormously inflated ego communicates with other soft-spoken individuals, there is an increasing likelihood of disputes between them. Another significant barrier to communication is the perceptual aspect. Perceptions play a substantial role in a company’s communication model. If an individual is seen as hostile, personnel may be less inclined to facilitate communication.

Managing Oversized Ego

As a manager, one may manage an employee that has an oversized ego. Individuals with oversized egos are not regarded as the best employees, and it is challenging to develop individuals with zero flaws. In this case, there are several ways of managing individuals with oversized egos. According to Petrone (2018), individuals with oversized egos fancy blandishment. If an individual begins complimenting the person’s ego, they are more likely to open up. Another mode of managing an individual with oversized egos is honesty. According to Petrone (2018), it is imperative to make it known to the individual if the content submitted is below par. They may believe that they are undertaking an excellent job. However, what has been presented may not be what the leader anticipates.

References

Ground report. (2016, Sep 6). 5 Barriers to Effective Communication Skills in Business. Retrieved Nov 18, 2018, from Ground report: https://www.groundreport.com/5-barriers-effective-communication-skills-business/

Kinicki, A., & Williams, B. k. (2018). Managemnt: A Practical Introduction, Eighth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

Petrone, P. (2018, June 4). LinkedIn. Retrieved from How to Manage Someone Who Has a Giant Ego: https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/learning-tips/how-to-manage-someone-who-has-a-giant-ego