Introduction
Interpersonal communication is a word that is used to describe the styles and tactics that are used by different people to convey a message. There are various stages that a message has to through for it to be declared communicated, to a larger extent depending on how the people communicating with each other are related. Messages have unique ways through which they may be conveyed, this depends on the kind of information being displayed and the audience that it is to reach. Effective communication hence depends on several factors which may be physical, psychological, and social. In this paper, we are going to consider some of the principles that have to be adapted to enhance communication and also some of the barriers that may hinder a message from effectively reaching the targeted audience and conveying the needed information.
The principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communications
There are generally four underlying principles that surround interpersonal communication. They include; Interpersonal communication is inescapable, Interpersonal communication is irreversible, Interpersonal communication is complicated, interpersonal communication is contextual.
Interpersonal communication is inescapable
Interpersonal communication can not be avoided at any point in time. Even when a person chooses to remain silent, there may be a message that he or she is conveying to the people around. Communication is not mainly about gestures and sounds but rather what may be running in the mind of an individual concerning a certain person or situation. The only thing that may distinguish the lack of gestures and silence in communication is the message that will be conveyed (Canary, et al, 2008). When a person remains silent and immobile, there is something that they are trying to suggest which may be quite different from what may be perceived by the audience around.
Interpersonal communication is irreversible
Once a message has been conveyed, there is no way it can be reversed. As much as an individual may apologize for saying something, it does not change what they just said. It is usually believed that a person does not just speak out; words are usually conceived in the heart and synthesized in the mind. That is why a person must think first before they speak out. As simple as a word or a signal may be, it may hold a lot of weight especially to the audience being addressed.
Interpersonal communication is considered complicated
Interpersonal communication can not be referred to as a simple exercise. This is mainly because of the different perceptions that people may have towards a certain message. Whenever a word or a signal is displayed to different categories of people, it will be realized that it is interpreted in different forms. Various cultures have different signals and words they use to display a certain kind of message. It will hence be inevitable to have a group or groups of people who will perceive a certain piece of information contrary to what the communicator meant.
Interpersonal communication is contextual
Communication depends on several factors that will determine how effective it is conceived. For instance, when addressing people of different age groups, the communicator of the message needs to use certain signals and words that are familiar to the groups. This is also applied when addressing certain cultures and also the environment of communication. One needs to understand the age groups being addressed, the surrounding environment, and the cultures represented in the audience. This will enable them to make necessary clarifications and adjustments.
Barriers to effective interpersonal interactions
Certain barriers may hinder the information from effectively reaching the targeted audience. Examples of the barriers include; Physical, Perceptual, Cultural, and Emotional barriers. Physical barriers are hindrances that can be perceived. They directly hinder the passage of information by creating a physical barrier. This could be due to using a different language, talking over closed doors, or using media that is not accessible. Perceptual barriers are brought about by differences in perception. The way a message is displayed is different from the way it will be perceived by the audience. This could be because of the attitudes that the people may be holding towards the person that is conveying the message. Such attitudes will make the audience understand the message in contradiction to what the person meant. Cultural barriers may also hinder the kind of message being conveyed. This is due to certain cultural values that surround that means of communication. Some of the symbols and signs used in communication may have different meanings when used by different cultures. For instance, eye contact has different meanings when used by people of different cultures. Emotional barriers are the feelings that may be displayed by individuals when a certain kind of message is being conveyed. For instance, when a person is excited, they may not correctly perceive what is being brought forth due to their emotional imbalance. This may also apply to a person that is sad or going through a certain situation.
Strategies for active, critical, and empathic listening
Listening is a fundamental part of interpersonal communication as it determines the level at which people will understand what is being conveyed. When people are attentively listening to the message, they will be able to seek clarifications where they did not understand. As they ask questions, the person communicating will be able to understand where the problem may be and hence be able to adapt an appropriate means of communication. However, to actively engage an audience in a conversation, it first needs the conveyer of the message to capture their mind and get them to listen to what they are saying. Once they get them to listen, they can be observed keenly to know if they are getting what is being conveyed or not. This can easily be determined by looking at their facial expressions or understanding their level of concentration. It will require that the conveyer of the message adopts a different style of communication that will once more capture the attention of the audience.
The strategy to be adopted will however depend on the kind of audience just to ensure that they are not completely turned off. Some of the common strategies used to capture people’s attention and make them get to not only listen but also understand what is being conveyed is using body language as well as facial expressions. The person conveying the message should also ensure that they maintain eye contact with the audience as well as move around especially if they are addressing a larger audience. They may also ask questions whenever necessary just to ensure that what was being conveyed has been well understood (Wood, 2009). Another strategy that may be employed in making the message exciting by using examples that are familiar to the audience. They may also divert the attention of the people a bit by using jokes. The strategy that is used to attract the attention of the listeners should however be chosen with care and in consideration of the seriousness of the message being conveyed.
How words have the power to create and affect attitudes, behavior, and perception
Words that are used in communication have a lot to tell about the person conveying the message. They usually reveal the level of education, the intention of the person, and their cultural background. Even though some of such instances may happen naturally and hence not easy to avoid, they can be minimized by adequate preparation. When an individual wants to address a certain congregation, they first need to have a clear understanding of the message that they want to display and the kind of audience being communicated to (Hartley, 1999). Despite their level of education, a person can be able to adjust their speech to ensure that they are perceived and understood appropriately. The message being conveyed and the audience being addressed should be regarded higher than the culture and level of education of the person conveying it. For instance, if the conveyer has minimal education and wants to address an audience of highly educated people, then he or she will have to practice and know the words to use.
People tend to develop an attitude towards the message being displayed by considering the kind of words that are being used by the conveyer. Despite the content that may be in the message, the level at which people perceive and understand it depends on the words that are used to display it. For instance, when addressing people with minimum knowledge or educational level, it will be pointless to use heavy words as they may make no sense to them. Despite the different levels that the audience and conveyer of the message may have, it is up to the person conveying the message to come to their level so that they understand. The words that are chosen for communication will also tell the audience how the person conveying the message perceives them to be.
How perceptions, emotions, and nonverbal expression affect interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal relationships are important for effective communication. The kind of emotions that will be displayed either by the audience or the conveyer of the message tells a lot about the relationship that they share. Nonverbal communication plays an important role when words can not be expressed. However, due to the different perceptions that people may have, it may not be easy to know what they get from certain communication symbols that are used. Silence in itself is a form of nonverbal communication that may be perceived differently by people (Hargie, et al, 1994). This form of communication makes it more complicated to ensure that the audience gets the correct information. Certain forms of verbal communication may be applicable in certain communities. They should hence not be used for any audience before the conveyer understands their cultural perceptions concerning the same.
Strategies for managing interpersonal conflicts
Conflicts in communication may be unavoidable due to the barriers that have been mentioned above. It hence requires that correct strategies be used to solve interpersonal conflicts. Before solving interpersonal conflicts, it will be appropriate to understand the exact thing that may be causing such conflicts. Most of such conflicts may arise due to inappropriate measures of communication that may be used. Interpersonal conflicts can be managed by ensuring that the right words are used for the appropriate audience. The person communicating the message should also ensure that they have a clear knowledge about the cultural background of their audience. If they have minimal time to understand that, they should use a generally acceptable form of communication that is not likely to suggest something different from what is being conveyed.
How self-concept and defensive and supportive messages and behaviors create positive and negative communication climates
When communicating to a larger audience, the conveyer should, by all means, avoid using, personal and defensive statements. They should instead concentrate on the information that they wish to display. However, using such a defensive statement may also help in eliminating some prejudice that the people could be having towards the information. Negatively, it may dilute the content of the message being displayed and hence making it lose the intended meaning. When addressing an official audience, personal statements should be avoided as much as possible. Positively, defensive and supportive statements may make the communicator be understood more by the audience especially if they are from different backgrounds. Supportive statements may be additional information that the conveyer adds to a rather complicated statement so that they are understood appropriately.
The impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communications
Gender and culture may have certain influences on interpersonal communication. This is so due to the different perceptions that culture has towards gender. For instance, certain cultures have no regard for a female communicator. They believe that a woman cannot effectively address them and hence have a negative attitude towards it (Monaghan, 2007. If one has to make such kinds of people receive the intended message, it will only be appropriate for them to make use of a male conveyer. Certain kinds of messages can only be displayed by a certain gender. For instance, if a person wants to address a message that targets the male gender, they will use more of the feminine gender in it to attract their attention. There are also certain kinds of emotions in communication that can only be effectively displayed by the female gender. Such kind of interpersonal communication is mostly considered necessary in advertisements. The marketers will use all means possible to ensure that the audience is lured into the product being advertised.
Conclusion
Interpersonal communication is a day-to-day activity that can not be avoided. There are some hitches in communication that can be avoided if appropriate research is done and preparations are made before addressing a certain kind of audience. Words have the power of creating and destroying. It is therefore important that appropriate words should be used when communicating to ensure that the message is displayed. Interactive sessions are necessary for interpersonal communications they will help the conveyer to know if the message has been well perceived or not. The ultimate of any communication is usually the response that is received from the audience. However, it also requires appropriate measures to be taken when decoding the message to ensure the right response. The paper has looked at the various principles applicable for communication as well as some of the barriers to effective interpersonal communication.
Reference list
- Canary, D, et al. (2008). Interpersonal Communication: A Goals-Based Approach.York: New Bedford/St. Martin’s.
- Hargie O. et al, (1994). Social skills in interpersonal communication. London: Routledge.
- Hartley, P. (1999). Interpersonal communication. London: Routledge.
- Monaghan, L. (2007) A cultural approach to interpersonal communication: essential readings. California: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Wood, J. (2009). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. London: Cengage Learning.