8 Myths and Misconceptions about Communication in

Organizations

Myth 1: Meanings are in words

• What a word means to us may not mean the same to someone else

• Meanings are in people, not words• What we say to others might convey a

meaning we are not trying to convey

Myth 2: Communication is a verbal process

• How we say something and how we act impact just as much as what we say

• Communication is not only a verbal process but a nonverbal process as well

• Nonverbal actions can contradict verbal messages and when they do most people believe the nonverbal

Myth 3: Telling is communicating

• Telling is only part of communication• Must be sensitive to other people’s views and

communication skills• Telling someone something is not

communicating with them

Myth 4: Communication will solve all our problems

• Communication can either create or help overcome problems

• Communication should be adjusted to the situation

• Forcing people to communicate sometimes will cause matters to get worse

• Communicating more effectively can help avoid some situations that result in problems

Myth 5: Communication is a good thing

• Communication is a tool• Communication is neither a good nor a bad

thing• The way you use communication determines if

it is a good thing or bad thing• We use communication for both positive and

negative purposes

Myth 6: The more communication, the better

• The quality of communication is important not the pure quantity of it

• The more people talk to one another, the better the decision made is not always the case

• Ignorance does not produce intelligence

Myth 7: Communication can break down

• Human communication does not break down rather we communicate unsuccessfully

• You cannot NOT communicate• Communication is always being expressed

even without words, hence nonverbal communication

Myth 8: Communication is a natural ability

• Communication is a learned ability• We acquire our communication skills through

our education as well as our experiences• Communication competence can be learned• Practicing can and will help you communicate

better