LESSON 9: Interpersonal Communication Skills

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Developing interpersonal communication skills is vitally important in today’s workplace. Even though you are an individual contributor in the workplace, you still need to communicate effectively with your boss as well as customers. Almost all kinds of work require communicating with people. Most people have colleagues with whom they need to communicate in order to be successful at their job.

When we communicate, we don't actually swap ideas, we swap symbols that stand for ideas. Words are just symbols that do not have inherent meaning; we simply use them in certain ways to convey an idea or give it a meaning, and no two people use the same word in the same sense at all instances.

The symbols attached to these words are a function of who we are, our social upbringing and culture, which will pretty much vary quite widely in today's work environment.


Our personal communication skills would be largely dependant on our cultural background and unique histories. As a result, there is a real possibility that when two of us get together there are chances that we are less effective at communicating with each other than we would like.

Interpersonal communication requires Good listening Skills and Conversational Skills.

1. LISTENING SKILLS

During Interpersonal Communication, we need to think about what to do not only as senders, but also as receivers. Before we can respond appropriately to others, we need to understand the sender, the message and our possible response. To do this, we need good listening skills.

Listening refers to paying thoughtful attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues of others.

There are two things involved in listening.

1. Listening for Ideas: We need to try to gather facts or follow a line of logical thinking. Listening for ideas is the kind of listening that focuses on the main point, for example students do as part of the learning process, the kind of listening a patient does when the doctor explains ailment and medications. The main goal of listening is comprehension and retention of information.

Factors that affect listening.

1. Lack of concentration
2. Noise
3. Trying to take a message word for word


Factors that aids good listening and to retain information.

1. Link new knowledge with old knowledge.
2. Pay attention to main points
3. Tying ideas together, e.g connect the word to an image
4. Ask for a repetition of an idea or ask for clarification.
5. Don’t be too hasty to respond.
6. Take notes for reference



Listening for Feelings

Good listening is also attentive to feelings. It is important to recognize what the other person is going through from their utterance. Here comprehension of details is not so important. To respond effectively, one must pay close attention to both the words and the non verbal cues. For example a smile can contradict a seemingly serious statement. Eye blinking, hand movement may signal the true emotional of the speaker.



Listening for facts or ideas and feelings provides us with basis for interacting with people. Good listening skills enhance communication in a variety of ways, in conversation, in comforting, and in conflict resolution.






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