Question

John, an American employee in Asia, is making eye contact during a meeting to show interest. However, Cho, an Asian employee, whom John is communicating with, considers this eye contact as a challenge to authority. What is acting as a barrier to communication here?

Answer 1

The barrier is cultural differences.
John, growing up in America learned that eye contact is a way of respect and to show you are paying attention.
Where Cho, growing up in Asia, many Asian counties don't have this "custom" to call it that.