Communication is essential for effective management. But it is not always as effective as it should be. Several obstructions, bottlenecks, hurdles or blockades hinder the process of communication. These are called barriers to communication. 

Four barriers to communication are given below: 

1. Physical Barriers: Physical distance between the sender and the receiver of the message is an important barrier to communication. Noise and environmental factors also obstruct communication. Mechanical barriers or defects in the equipments used for communication also cause distortion. 

2. Status Barriers: Status means the position of a person in the hierarchy of an organisation. It is usually a major barrier in the free flow of information. A superior (boss) may pass only selected information to his subordinates in order to maintain status differences. Subordinates often convey only that information which the superior would appreciate. Thus, status may cause distortion in both downward communication and upward communication. 

3. Lack of Mutual Trust: Communication becomes ineffective when there is lack of faith between the sender and the receiver. In such a situation transmission of information and ideas is not free. Emotional attitudes on the part of communicator and communicate also obstruct free flow of communication. 

4. Premature Evaluation: Some persons tend to form a judgement or arrive at a conclusion before receiving the complete message. This tendency is known as premature evaluation. It distorts understanding and acts as a barrier to effective communication.