The Strengths of Interpersonal Communication
Sharing one’s thoughts and feelings with another human being via vocal and nonverbal means is ‘interpersonal communication.’ It facilitates interaction in both social and professional contexts. Hiring managers value candidates who can work well with others and communicate clearly and effectively in the workplace. Hence, discussing the importance of interpersonal communication and outlining barriers restricting its effectiveness seems relevant.
Sense of Connection With Others
Connecting with and comprehending other individuals is an essential interpersonal skill. One uses their abilities often while communicating with others face to face. People who can effectively communicate and collaborate with others in their personal and professional lives have strong interpersonal skills. Those who excel at collaborating with others and forming positive connections are known to do so (Petrovici & Dobrescu, 2014). They deeply comprehend those closest to them, as well as those they work with and serve. Colleagues with strong social skills are highly valued by their employers.
Critical Thinking
Two more advantages of developing interpersonal abilities are the capacity to think critically and make sound judgments. Effective communication and the capability to empathize with others can help reach a consensus on a course of action that benefits all parties. Strong interpersonal skills are highly sought after by many businesses since they correlate to teamwork and cooperation. People naturally good at communicating with and inspiring those around them tend to make excellent leaders.
Effective Teamwork
Strong interpersonal communication skills are essential for every team to function well and achieve its objectives. Below are instances of how to improve interpersonal communication. Speaking clearly, assuredly, and context-appropriately may greatly improve a capacity to convey thoughts and ideas to others (Hargie, 2019). Using the right voice and terminology while communicating with a certain group is essential.
Professional Communication
Then, using a businesslike tone and vocabulary in business settings is another important aspect to address. For instance, it is best to stick to simple language and steer clear of jargon when communicating with clients. Moreover, listening actively seems vital, which means paying close attention to what another person is saying and processing it thoroughly (Hargie, 2019). One demonstrates their interest in the speaker by making eye contact, nodding, and smiling at them. When people actively listen, they focus on both the speaker’s words and body language.
The Role of Nonverbal Communication
It seems reasonable to stress that body language, facial expressions, and gestures convey something. It is important to pay attention to nonverbal indications as well. Nodding a head, smiling, and seeming at ease are all great ways to show that one is paying attention and enjoying the discussion. Moreover, empathy is being able to put oneself in another person’s shoes and experience what they are feeling, needing, and thinking (Hargie, 2019). Those who are empathic listen carefully and respond with understanding and sympathy. Workplaces with high levels of empathy tend to have happier, more productive workers because they can better understand one another and communicate effectively. One may win over coworkers’ trust and respect by demonstrating empathy.
Limitations That Can Hamper Communication Especially Interpersonal Communication
Poor Employee Relationships
Interpersonal communication is hampered when people are reluctant to speak up to each other or when free dialogue is discouraged. Communication is not the only area where working relationships have an effect. For instance, if two workers have different opinions, they may stop interacting with one another (Langlinais et al., 2022). This may be a pressing condition for a company if they have to concentrate on a project together. Given this, the turnaround period on a project may be slower than desired.
Here, it should be noted that workplace communication problems are prevalent. It is possible that fresh faces will not speak out at crucial meetings due to nerves (Langlinais et al., 2022). Some supervisors have a habit of talking over employees and shutting them out completely. It could be due to the person’s character or the culture of the company. Leaders should be cautious about setting up barriers to open and truthful communication. The effectiveness of a company’s operations may suffer if communication is impeded. Interpersonal barriers may have far-reaching effects on a company’s operations, from the minute to the massive; it is crucial to spot these errors as soon as possible and make the necessary adjustments.
Use of Jargon
Barriers to communication come in many forms, including those based on technology, structure, and emotion. Each of these factors may have an effect on social interactions (O’Sullivan & Carr, 2018). It is always challenging to have trouble communicating with someone, whether it is a coworker who is hard to get along with or a boss who does not have an open-door policy. Then, for example, the manager on the product team may send an email to a sales associate, but if they utilize jargon, the message may be lost in translation. It has the potential to separate any two individuals as well (Petrocchi et al., 2021). It might be awkward for the sales associate to communicate their uncertainty, while the product manager could easily think they received a clear message. When no one acknowledges or asks about the meaning of the communication, it inevitably becomes garbled. The use of jargon may be a barrier to clear expression.
Lack of Trust
Building a strong team is crucial to any organization’s progress; however, trust issues within groups can impede open dialogue. For instance, workers are more likely to prefer performing the task themselves if they lack faith in their coworkers to get it done (Langlinais et al., 2022). As with any act of delegation, there is an element of trust and responsibility involved. To that end, improving team communication requires a shift in perspective and strategy. Disagreements on the team must be settled as soon as possible, and this may be a huge time saver for establishments.
To communicate effectively, one needs to do more than simply talk or write clearly. As mentioned above, active listening is a vital skill for every communicator (Hargie, 2019). It entails paying attention, asking clarifying questions, and taking in the other person’s thoughts to the point where one can carry on a meaningful discussion. Discord among workers is a direct result of inactive listening. It might be offensive to someone, for instance, if they are trying to express themselves but no one is listening to them. This may make individuals reluctant to speak out in group settings in the future.
Overcoming External Communication Barriers
There are several barriers to effective communication that might arise between a sender and a recipient. The external setting is a moving target – interpersonal communication may suffer if one worker is in the office whilst the other is at home (Brewer et al., 2022). It is possible that the individual working remotely may be unreachable for the meeting or that the office environment would be too noisy.
Moreover, in terms of a formal setting, there are several ways in which interpersonal communication might be influenced by its organizational structure. Employees may be hesitant to approach superiors, for example, if they work in a hierarchical organization. It is conceivable that all they are doing is following orders and not contributing anything to the group. Given this, they can start avoiding communication in general, as well as being too timid to voice their thoughts and views. Thus, interpersonal communication serves as a great foundation for proper and productive social interactions, which is essential in various contexts.
References
Brewer, P. R., Bingaman, J., Paintsil, A., Wilson, D. C., & Dawson, W. (2022). Media use, interpersonal communication, and attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Science Communication, 44(5), 559–592. Web.
Hargie, O. (2019). The handbook of communication skills (4th ed.). Routledge.
Langlinais, L. A., Howard, H. A., & Houghton, J. D. (2022). Trust me: Interpersonal communication dominance as a tool for influencing interpersonal trust between coworkers. International Journal of Business Communication. Web.
O’Sullivan, P. B., & Carr, C. T. (2018). Masspersonal communication: A model bridging the mass-interpersonal divide. New Media & Society, 20(3), 1161–1180. Web.
Petrocchi, S., Filipponi, C., Antonietti, C., Levante, A., & Lecciso, F. (2021). Theory of mind as a mediator between emotional trust beliefs and interpersonal communication competence in a group of young adults. Psychological Reports, 124(2), 555–576. Web.
Petrovici, A., & Dobrescu, T. (2014). The role of emotional intelligence in building interpersonal communication skills. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, 1405–1410.