BackWhat is interpersonal communication?
Interpersonal communication is crucial for success in any area of life, but especially at work. Interpersonal skills are essential for establishing good relationships with other people, resolving conflicts and building effective teams. In this publication, we discuss how to develop your interpersonal skills at work to become a more effective and competent employee.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Interpersonal communication what exactly is it?
- Active Listening
- NVC – or Non-Violent Communication
- Conflict management
- Developing skills in teamwork
- Presentation skills
Interpersonal communication – definition
Interpersonal communication is the process of exchanging information and communicating between two or more people. Through this skill we are able to understand the needs and expectations of others, as well as communicate our own thoughts and feelings.
Interpersonal communication is a process that requires the effective and efficient exchange of information.
Nowadays, this communication plays a key role in work and business. Effective communication in a company allows for effective team management, avoidance of conflicts and increased efficiency in the execution of tasks. Interpersonal communication also allows for better communication with customers, which translates into customer satisfaction and loyalty.
It is worth noting that interpersonal communication is a skill that can be developed. You can learn how to have effective conversations with others, how to ask questions and how to listen to the other person.
Nowadays, a variety of courses and training are available to help you improve this skill. Practice and regular exercises, such as talking to other people, is another way to develop interpersonal communication skills.
Active listening
One of the most important interpersonal skills at work is active listening.
Active listening is the process of consciously listening to another person. It involves being fully focused on the message and understanding someone’s point of view.
In the context of interpersonal communication, active listening is a key skill.
Because I know it allows you to build better relationships with other people, understand their needs and resolve conflicts.
The process of active listening consists of several steps. The first step is to focus on the interlocutor and concentrate on their words. Then listen with understanding, analysing the message in the context of their situation and emotions. It is also useful to ask questions to better understand the other person’s intentions and needs. The next step is to confirm your understanding and express your interest in the interlocutor.
Active listening has many benefits in both personal and professional life. In a work context, it allows you to increase the effectiveness of team communication, avoid misunderstandings and conflicts and better understand the needs and expectations of other employees. This allows you to build positive relationships with other team members, which in turn influences the productivity and efficiency of the entire team.
It is important to remember that active listening is a process that requires practice and systematic improvement. It is possible to develop your active listening skills by practising regularly and striving to better understand the needs and expectations of others. It is also useful to use available sources of knowledge, such as training and courses, to help you improve this skill.
At work, active listening can help with problem solving, negotiation and effective team management.
NVC or non-violent communication
Nowadays, many people face relationship problems and violence is often a way of resolving conflict. NVC makes it possible to change this way of thinking and acting.
Non-violent communication is about learning to communicate in an open way that respects others, but also respects oneself. It is a method that allows you to express your emotions in a way that is constructive and helpful, rather than aggressive and destructive.
NVC can be successfully applied both in private relationships and at work. In everyday work, many people face difficult situations in which tension and stress cause conflicts and problems. Applying the principles of NVC allows such situations to be resolved in a calm and effective manner.
Using NVC at work allows us to build positive relationships with colleagues, superiors or clients. By starting to listen to others and respect their views, we create an atmosphere of trust and respect. This makes it easier to solve problems and work as a team.
Using NVC requires learning the right skills. It is important to learn to recognise your own emotions and how to express them. It is also important to learn to listen to others and not just talk. The method is also about accepting others and their needs and finding solutions that are mutually beneficial.
Find out more about this method of communication in this article: NVC-what is it actually?
Learn conflict management
Conflicts at work can negatively affect productivity and team atmosphere.
It is therefore important to manage them in an effective and constructive manner.
Conflicts in communication at work can arise for a variety of reasons, such as incompatibility of goals, working styles or personalities.
It is therefore useful to know how to recognise them and how to resolve them effectively.
The first step is to recognise the conflict situation and identify the source of the conflict. Then it is worth considering what the needs and expectations of each party are. It is worth paying attention to the emotions and feelings that accompany the conflict and their causes. Many conflicts arise from misunderstandings, which are often due to errors in communication.
In order to manage conflict, it is useful to use several effective tools. One of them is the technique of active listening, i.e. listening attentively to the other party without interrupting or judging. It is also important to ask open-ended questions to understand what the other party wants to say. It is important to remember that listening does not mean agreeing, but it allows you to understand the other person’s point of view.
Another tool is to express your position in a clear and understandable way.
So that you do so without triggering negative emotions in others. A good way to express one’s opinions is to use “I”, i.e. to express one’s feelings and needs, instead of accusations and criticism.
If the situation requires further intervention, it is a good idea to use a mediator or an in-house mediator to help both parties find a solution. Mediation is a process in which a neutral person helps both parties to find a common solution to a problem.
It is worth remembering that conflict management is a process that requires time, patience and determination. It is also important that each party is willing to cooperate and seek solutions.
In conclusion, conflicts in work communication are not uncommon, but they can be learned to be managed in an effective and constructive way. It is worth using effective tools such as active listening, expressing one’s position in a clear and understandable way and mediation.
Develop your teamwork skills
Good teamwork requires both individual skills and the ability to communicate effectively with others. Here are some ways you can develop your teamwork skills.
- Collaborate with others:
Working with other people is a key part of teamwork. Collaboration allows you to develop skills in listening, giving and receiving information and building trust and understanding.
- Pay attention to the team’s objectives:
Focusing on the team’s goals and objectives allows for the development of skills in collaboration, decision-making and the use of diverse perspectives.
- Learn from others:
Working with others allows you to share experiences and learn new skills.
You can learn new ways of dealing with problems and use the best practices of other team members.
- Support others:
Supporting other team members helps to develop empathy, commitment and problem-solving skills. Helping others also increases a sense of commitment and community.
- Be flexible:
Teamwork requires flexibility, i.e. the ability to adapt to changing conditions and situations.
It is important to be open to new ideas and ways of solving problems.
- Communicate clearly and effectively:
Effective communication is key in teamwork.
It is important to express your thoughts and feelings clearly and effectively and to listen to other team members.
- Accept feedback:
Receiving and giving feedback is a key skill in teamwork. It allows you to improve the work of the team and to develop individually.
Developing teamwork skills is a process that takes time, patience and commitment. It is important to focus on building positive relationships with other team members, developing your communication skills and flexibility in making decisions and dealing with difficult situations.
Develop your presentation skills
Many situations in life require public speaking skills.
Develop your presentation skills by learning to speak with clarity and confidence. Using the right techniques, can help you succeed in many areas of life.
Presentation skills are particularly important for managers who often need to speak in public, but they are also useful for employees who want to present their ideas or work results to others.
Developing your presentation skills can help you build your confidence.
In addition, it allows you to convey information in an effective and convincing way.
It is worth learning techniques such as:
-good eye contact
-communicating clearly and understandably
-using an appropriate tone of voice
-using multimedia presentations
-using gestures and facial expressions.
With these skills, you can create a positive impression on your audience and increase your effectiveness at work.
We hope the above article has given you an insight into what interpersonal communication is and how you can develop it to be a more effective and desirable employee in the job market.
You can find more of our articles HERE and HERE 🙂
Share article
Tags
