Interpersonal Communication: A Guide to Have a Must-Have Business Skill
On a range of one to five, managers rank interpersonal communication at 4.3⁷¹. It is attributed nearly as high as good ‘teamwork’. T.E.A.M stands for ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’. But, for this to actually work- good communication is a must. In the following article, we would be drawing out an analysis of what entails interpersonal communication definition and how does it help an organization:
What Is Interpersonal Communication?
Interpersonal communication skills refer to the process and practicing interpersonal relationship skills with the help of changing information, ideas, and even emotional experiences which can be shared between two people or a group of people. Interpersonal communication is pretty much the base for setting strategies and executing them in an efficient manner too.
How Interpersonal Communication Works?
There are various different ways of executing interpersonal communication. To understand how this mode of communication works, you first need to understand the different types of interpersonal communication:
What Are the 4 Types of Interpersonal Communication and Interpersonal Skills?
The 4 types of interpersonal communication include:
1. Verbal
The most convenient form of interpersonal communication is through verbal means. It is also the most common way to communicate with your peers and colleagues. Verbal communication entails spoken communication- in person or over calls to exchange information in the form of words.
2. Listening
Listening is an important aspect of interpersonal communication. It is not only about talking but also taking into consideration what the other person says.
3. Written Communication
Written communication has been associated with formal communication since time immemorial. Hence, written communication is definitely quite an important form of interpersonal communication.
4. Non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication is described as body language which includes expressions and gestures which makes a lot of difference during presentations as well as verbal communication.
You must have noticed these aforementioned categories quite often. To inculcate healthy interpersonal relationship skills, all these types are used so that we can take complete advantage of perfect communication and work effectively.
Importance of Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
i) Problem-solving
Interpersonal communication definition by itself reflects on the importance of finding the right solution to fix a problem or to resolve a conflict. It helps with weighing the pros and cons of a situation before finding the perfect solution. Effectively communicating about solutions is immensely helpful in the growth of any organization.
ii) Proper alignment with business goals
Since communication helps with inculcating interpersonal relationship skills, it means that you can align better with different business goals and also helps your employees in understanding them from a broader perspective.
iii) Crisis management
During times of crisis, interpersonal relationship skills are really important. Especially when there is external communication, maintaining clarity between employees is very crucial and helpful.
iv) Career development
Interpersonal communication skills are highly important when it comes to career development. Your communication skills can actually help you grow in your career and come into the radar of your management, positively.
v) The success of the employees
If you want to get the best out of what is interpersonal communication, you can ensure activities that help with the success of the employees. You can do this through different training programs and initiatives.
vi) Inculcates personal relationships
While interpersonal communication theories have primarily been used on a professional front, they can also really help with enhancing personal relationships even at the work front. This can help in happier employees and better retention.
vii) Avoids workplace miscommunication
Another way to understand what is interpersonal communication is to see how workplace miscommunication is handled. Proper communication can ensure avoiding a lot of conflicts and efficient working.
viii) Helps set up a company culture
The right company culture can also be set up with the help of interpersonal communication skills. Right from organizing festivals, events, team meetings to having a particular approach to how teams are managed, interpersonal communication can really help set up a company culture.
Some of the other advantages that help define interpersonal communication include:
- Change of management and bringing in new skills
When you have new employees coming in or you are in the process of changing how a workplace functions, it is important to ensure that interpersonal communication works properly and reflects the company culture as a whole.
- Helps with managing remote work
In times when most organizations are working remotely, interpersonal communication is very important. It helps in maintaining coordination between teams as well as client updates without much hassle.
- A perfect example for setting up a leadership
All employees appreciate the leadership that makes them feel acknowledged. The best way to ensure that your employees always know your position and worth is by ensuring efficient interpersonal communication.
- Helps in setting up trust
With the right communication, organizations can most definitely establish trust between employees and work towards achieving set goals for an organization.
- Acknowledgment for employees and recognizing them
Through interpersonal communication, organizations will be able to get a push when it comes to acknowledging their employees and giving them the appreciation they need. As you communicate more, you would be able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each employee and help them accordingly.
What Are Some Examples of Interpersonal Communication?
To understand the proper meaning of interpersonal communication, we need to first understand interpersonal communication examples. Here are some of the most common forms of interpersonal communication in a workplace:
1. Phone Calls
Phone calls were first invented in the year 1876 and changed the interpersonal communication definition. We cannot thank Alexander Graham Bell enough for this mode as it really set a strong base for global interactions. At the moment, we can pretty much manage the whole world with our phone calls. Especially when it comes to workplace management, phone calls are the perfect way to get internal communication sorted.
2. Meetings
Another way of approaching what interpersonal skills mean is by actually getting your meetings ethics perfect. Through this, you can have a proper structure set and help with the management of further plans and strategies.
3. Presentations
When it comes to interpersonal communication examples, the one form that is highly overlooked is the presentations on the corporate front. It is very important to explain what you understand and work through them.
4. Emails and Texting
One of the most prevalent forms of interpersonal communication is emails and texting in today’s day and age. Everybody wants concise and to the point communication and the best way to ensure this is via emails- so that multiple people are in the loop and texting- as it is highly accessible.
Let’s look at some of the best forms of interpersonal communication:
Interpersonal Communication and Remote Work
It is very important to ensure proper interpersonal communication through these times. During COVID-19, most organizations have set up remote working. In these times when face-to-face communication is difficult, meetings and events to grab the eyeballs of prospective clients is next to impossible, interpersonal communication is important more than ever.
The Lack of Interpersonal Communication Skills in the Workplace
While we have looked at the benefits of interpersonal communication, the lack of communication skills can have the following effects:
- It can result in workplace mismanagement which can have an impact on employee productivity, employee engagement and can also lead to business loss.
- Organizations might lose out on clients, if the client-facing team is not on the same page in terms of efficiently communicating and fulfilling their needs,
- Additionally, in some cases, it may create animosity amongst employees if there is a miscommunication.
Make Internal Communications More Strategic with NuovoTeam
To ensure that you get the most efficient internal communication sorted for your organization, you can check out NuovoTeam. It not only helps in streamlining communication within business contacts, but also ensures perfect connectivity to help your employees always stay connected and productivity is not impacted. NuovoTeam enables communication via instant encrypted text messages, VoIP and Video calling, exchange images, files and voice notes and facilitate team communication with group chats. Do a lot more with this perfect tool in your armory, explore the NuovoTeam app today!
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