Message Distortion

How communication works

  

What Happens to Messages When They Are Distorted
A Humorous Example of Message Distortion  
A Real Life Example of Message Distortion   
Guidelines on How To Minimize Message Distortion 
Assignements on Message distortion
 

Message distortion occurs whenever a message sent by one communicator is interpreted differently by the person receiving the message.  Complex and costly examples of message distortion often occur on the job when someone misinterprets instructions about completing a task.  Although we cannot eliminate distortion completely when we send messages in an organizational (or any other) setting, this module provides a number of suggestions about how we can reduce message distortion.

 The nature of the hierarchy is one main reason that messages become distorted in organizations.  The power, authority, and status relationships inherent in the chain of command in any organization create an additional influence on the distortion of information.

The person who supervises or manages us has the power to reward us through any variety of ways such as raises, bonuses, positive evaluations, promotions, positive recommendations, desirable and beneficial job assignments, and any of a number of other positive things.  That person can also punish us through a variety of means as well, such as not recommending a raise, giving us undesirable job assignments, unfavorable work schedules, or other negative things.  Because of this power relationship with its inherent ability to reward and punish, people tend to distort information to please the boss.  Employees tend to distort messages so to make themselves look good and downplay information that makes them look bad.

            There is a large body of research that indicates the effects of the hierarchy on the distortion of messages.  Just a few of those findings are that:

 

What Happens to Messages When They Are Distorted
A Humorous Example of Message Distortion  
A Real Life Example of Message Distortion   
Guidelines on How To Minimize Message Distortion 
Assignements on Message distortion

 

See aslo Information Overload  

Guideline: How to mange time to deal with overload