now, no signup required!
We’ve all been there! You dress in your smartest outfit and confidently step into the interviewer’s cabin with your CV and certificates in hand. But then you discover you won’t just be judged on your technical knowledge and experience but also on your soft skills. While talent, skills, and experience are crucial, how important do you think interpersonal communications are to success in the workplace?
We always see people with excellent communication skills succeed in their professional and personal lives. Words have tremendous power over all of us. They can heal or hurt someone within a second! But what are interpersonal communication skills and how do you know if you are or can be an effective communicator?
Let’s Understand Interpersonal Communication Skills
Interpersonal communication consists of verbal and nonverbal communication. People often exchange information and feelings through face-to-face communication. Most of us focus on words we listen to. But interpersonal communication is less about what’s said and more about how it’s said.
It’s not only your words but also the tone of your voice, facial expressions, and body language that powerfully express your thoughts and emotions. Observe and understand these nonverbal signs to learn more about the other person’s thoughts and feelings, and how your words and behavior impact your peers.
Key Interpersonal Communication Skills
While you might already possess good communication and interpersonal skills, why not sharpen these skills further.
-
Be a good communicator
A proficient communicator, who is also a good listener, always encourages others to express themselves more freely. If you wish to be one, understand how you influence others as a speaker. Listen to their opinions expressed through words, gestures including smiles and nods, and silences too.
-
Gather the message
Try to decode the message behind a person’s speech or nonverbal communication. Expressions speak louder than words, and provide additional information about the emotional states of both the speaker and the listener.
Importance of Interpersonal Communication Skills
The role of interpersonal communication skills in professional life is to instill a more positive culture and inspire others to join hands for common goals.
-
Enhanced teamwork
There’s no ‘I’ in the word ‘team’. Collaborative teamwork or the ‘We-ness’ among coworkers is the foundation of success for every organization. And clear communication always helps you and your team build trust and inspire each other to achieve common goals.
-
Higher productivity
A problem shared is a problem halved. You may break the ice with your team by discussing issues and asking them for their suggestions to find viable solutions. Working together boosts trust and productivity without any deliberate effort, which is crucial for achieving short-term as well as long-term goals.
-
Iron-out bottlenecks
Who hasn’t experienced bottlenecks and workload? They are inevitable and happen amidst outlandish requirements and stringent deadlines. However, with effective planning and communication, we as a team can do wonders and find out amazing solutions to the hardest problems and bid adieu to bottlenecks.
How To Improve Interpersonal Communication Skills
So, how can you practice interpersonal communication skills in the workplace? Here are three steps to improve interpersonal communication:
-
Maintain eye contact
Highly essential to keep your audience engrossed in your speech.
-
Let others speak uninterruptedly
Focus on what the other person is saying through words and gestures; value their thoughts and ideas as you want the same attention in return.
-
Be aware of your body language
Nonverbal signs can say a lot more than words. Your confident gestures and postures have the power to win you the tag of being a great communicator and leader.
Final thoughts
Undoubtedly, extraordinary interpersonal skills and communication skills are instrumental in building an impressive personality. If you dream of an enriching personal and professional life, the ability to initiate unbiased and clear communication is a vital skill. Harappa’s courses empower you to fulfill this dream.
Explore topics such as the Importance of Interpersonal Skills, How to Improve Interpersonal Skills and the Interpersonal Skills at Workplace from our Harappa Diaries blog section to ace your soft skills.
