What are Interpersonal Communication Skills?

An Essential Workplace Skill

Interpersonal communication skills are essential if you work in an office with at least one other person. Having good interpersonal skills means that you listen well and form thoughtful responses to whomever you are interacting with. Good interpersonal communication skills are extremely valuable, not only in the workplace, but in every aspect of your life. The ability to communicate effectively with other people will open doors for your career. In short, possessing good interpersonal communication skills will make life better.

Pros and Cons

Interpersonal communication skills allow individuals to advance conversation skills, overcome shyness, negotiate and resolve conflict, and influence (but not manipulate) the decisions and actions of others. Effective interpersonal communication skills enable you to clearly convey your thoughts, feelings, and information quickly and efficiently during an interpersonal experience. Use good interpersonal skills to understand an individual, and create an environment conducive to communication. Poor communication is frequently the root of conflict and misunderstandings, and can be avoided or minimized by establishing one’s own intent, and discerning the intent of others.

Improving Means Increased Productivity

Training in interpersonal communication skills and conflict resolution strategies typically involves role-playing exercises to help participants practice the behavior needed to resolve problems. When a conflict gets resolved quickly, it usually leads to personal and professional development as well as increased productivity. Training professionals conduct workshops and seminars to describe successful communication strategies that enable participants to analyze situations effectively, build more cohesive teams and minimize tension and stress.

Improving your Interpersonal Communication Skills and Communicating with others is a very important skill in business negotiations and personal relationships. By improving your arsenal of interpersonal communication skills, it is possible to build up your overall effectiveness as well as conceivably your own career gratification. You will certainly observe over time, that as you make positive changes to interpersonal communication skills, your thinking processes likewise change. The further you advance in an organization the greater will be your need for superb interpersonal communication skills.

As a receiver, instead of just listening to the words that are being said to you, you will need to go beyond that and look for other messages. This is what improving interpersonal communication skills is all about. If someone were to tell you they are very interested in what you have to say but have a very uninterested expression on their face as well as in their body language, then knowing this can help you either change the subject or change your approach in how you are delivering the message.

Who Can Benefit?

Everyone from administrative assistants to upper management can benefit from employee interpersonal skills training, because it teaches them how to cooperate across all levels of the organization. Spend some time outlining which interpersonal communication skills are essential to specific job roles. For example, a manager may need instruction in how to provide constructive criticism, while staff members may need guidance in respectful communication.