In organizations, communication tends to be strictly professional, and leaders want to hear about their employees’ individual lives and work. But many employees do not feel comfortable sharing their personal experiences with their managers and leaders, which leads to a lot of friction and mistakes in the workplace. Although monthly meetings are useful for communicating with employees, they are not two-way conversations. EOR is often viewed as a way for employees to influence the issue at hand. Most employees view EOR as a method to influence a company’s decision, but it is hard to see how it will benefit the organization in the long run.

The importance of good workplace relationships depends on the kind of culture. The most effective businesses promote good interpersonal relationships between coworkers. These teams will work more efficiently when each member has a sense of belonging. They will be more likely to collaborate and innovate when they feel valued. As a result, they’ll be more likely to be productive and efficient. They will also be more satisfied with their work and better understand what others say.

The area of communication that emphasizes relationships between coworkers is Interpersonal Communication. Interpersonal communication refers to how a person interacts with another person or group. 

1. What Is the Definition of Interpersonal Communication?

‘Interpersonal’ refers to two people sharing information face-to-face through expressions, voice, gestures, and body language. The effectiveness with which these messages are conveyed, on the other hand, serves as a benchmark for assessing a person’s interpersonal abilities.

To summarize, interpersonal communication describes the process of communicating ideas, sentiments, and information between two or more individuals, whether through vocal or nonverbal means.

Your definition of interpersonal communication may differ significantly from the one above, but the fundamental principles will likely remain the same. You’ll still agree that good interpersonal communication skills in the office can serve as a solid basis for long-term professional and personal connections.

2. Interpersonal Communication Can be Divided into Three Categories

Communication Through the Mouth

Oral communication is the most common and successful mode of communication. A speech, a one-on-one encounter, or a group discussion is all examples of oral communication. The main advantage of oral communication is speed because the sender encodes the message into words, which the receiver decodes and responds to right away. Any faults may be caught early on before they become costly mistakes that stifle production. 

When a message must be relayed to many people, the primary drawback of oral communication comes into play. Did you ever play “telephone” with your friends when you were a kid? If you did, you’d recall that communication begins as a whisper at one end and is frequently transformed by the time it reaches the other, sometimes in a humorous fashion. All jokes aside, that is a real phenomenon and a significant problem in businesses. When messages are transferred from person to person verbally, they can be misinterpreted.

Communication in Writing

Newsletters, memos, emails, instant messaging, and anything else you type or write are examples of written communication. They’re verifiable kinds of communication that survive after transmission and can be referred to by receivers for clarity.

Written communications have several advantages, one of which is written. They exist after the transmission and can be used as a reference point in the future. Written communications are especially useful for long, complex messages since they can be quickly referenced. Furthermore, because there is typically enough time to reread and examine what has been written and be more attentive about the information being conveyed, making a written communication often requires the sender to be more thorough in their communication.

Non-Verbal Communication 

It’s not just what you say that matters; it’s also how you say it. It’s a common misconception that communication is 35 percent verbal and 65 percent nonverbal. People speaking a foreign language would be easier to understand if this were true. On the other hand, nonverbal communication does give additional meaning to in-person conversations. All of the things that aren’t said yet definitely transmit part of the message are included in nonverbal communication, which includes the following:

You can find yourself conversing with coworkers throughout the day without saying anything. Consider how your body language, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact can help or hinder your workplace talks.

Nonverbal communication affects all interactions, whether you’re giving a presentation at a meeting, chatting with coworkers in the hallway, or talking to your employer in their office. Nonverbal communication is equally important in social situations such as lunches, office parties, and after-work events.

• Strong eye contact: As eye contact expresses attention, involvement, and emotions, it is your primary tool for building nonverbal interactions with others. Those who speak while maintaining eye contact are frequently regarded as trustworthy.
  We are maintaining good eye contact while listening can be demonstrated by maintaining a tiny smile, nodding periodically, and maintaining appropriate facial expressions.
• A strong handshake: Because the handshake is the only appropriate form of touch in business, having a good one is essential.
• Hand gestures with a purpose: Hand gestures provide meaning to the spoken word. Finger-pointing, fidgeting, tapping, messing with hair, wringing hands, and twisting a ring are all distracting habits to avoid.
• Commanding posture and presence: This is evident in how one sits and stands since it generates a dynamic presence and a leadership mentality. Employees’ sitting posture sends messages, whether they’re leaning back in their chair or sitting straight on the edge of their seat. When standing, make sure you stand tall and straight to convey confidence, authority, and enthusiasm.
• Intonation is a type of nonverbal communication as well: The sender’s message to the listener is influenced by how you say things, including your tone and inflection. Take the sentence “How would you like to go to lunch?” for example.

Intonation also refers to the sender’s energy and emotion when delivering his message. For example, suppose you’ve watched Gene Wilder’s Willie Wonka in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In that case, you’ll recall that when one of the factory’s visitors engages in a behavior that isn’t allowed, Willie Wonka says, “Stop. Please.” Don’t.” Wonka’s words suggest that he is invested in getting the child to stop, but his tone suggests otherwise.

3. What Constitutes Interpersonal Communication Elements?

Before we get into the specifics of why interpersonal communication is important and why you should practice it, there are a few aspects of interpersonal communication that can help you better grasp how it works –

The Communicators

You can refer to the receiver or the information provider as a communicator. In any interpersonal communication conversation, there are at least two communicators.

Message

 When two people communicate, it’s normal for them to pass on a message. This message serves as the focal point of the conversation and is an important aspect of interpersonal communication. It can be communicated through various means, including body language, speech, tone of voice, and more.

Noise

What happens if the communication sent is not received expectedly? This can lead to miscommunication, referred to as noise in the communication world. Language difficulties, jargon, inattention, and other forms of noise are examples of such noise. When it comes to workplace interpersonal communication, dealing with noise is a component you must consider to channel successful communication.

Feedback

Feedback is the term used to describe the receiver’s response. The message returned to the sender is crucial since it allows them to determine whether or not their communication was correctly interpreted.

Context

 The context plays a big role in how a message is interpreted or received correctly. Interpersonal communication is, at its core, contextual, and this refers to the external elements that can affect communication outcomes.

Channel

The way communication takes place is equally important, and this element is referred to as the channel or medium. It can take place offline or online or be spoken or written.

4. Interpersonal Communication’s Importance in the Workplace

In an annual Global Human Report, it was determined that up to 63 percent of respondents recognized sophisticated problem-solving as a developing necessity, based on input from around 11,000 HR and business leaders. In addition, up to 52% of respondents identified a growing demand for social skills, putting interpersonal communication at the top of many firms’ priorities.

The preceding insight underlines the importance of interpersonal contact in the workplace and how it fosters better discourse, better ideas, and, as a result, better collaboration.

Good communication skills can ensure a more efficient way of getting things done while also helping you to be loved at work, from the client to your coworkers. In addition, people will respond to your approach better if you can simplify your ideas for them.

Here are some ways that effective communication skills can help you boost your productivity and advance your career in the workplace –

Solving Problems

People need good interpersonal skills because they can talk about their problems and analyze the many advantages and disadvantages of a topic. It becomes more successful if you have solid problem-solving skills since you can share your voice with others and make them feel participate.

Aligning with Business Goals

Unproductiveness can be caused by a breakdown in communication between employers and employees. For example, team members become more detached and disinterested in work when leaders and supervisors fail to communicate clearly. Conversely, employees benefit from good interpersonal communication in the workplace because it gives them a clear direction and a goal.

Trust

Employees need to feel trusted while also trusting others, and trust is one of the most valuable assets in the workplace. Lack of trust can lead to poor communication, particularly among business leaders and senior executives in charge of the company’s day-to-day operations.

Change Management

Good communication skills are also required for change management activities to be successful within organizations. It aids employees in better understanding the change and aligning with it to effectively implement the change.

Company Culture

Thanks to a positive work culture, an organization can thrive when interpersonal interactions are handled correctly. Employees with strong interpersonal communication skills can contribute to a more positive and synergistic organizational culture. Negativity, disagreement, and ambiguity can wreak havoc on relationships. If not done correctly, it might degrade the working environment and impair productivity.

Employee Recognition

Employee recognition can be boosted through good interpersonal communication skills in the workplace. For example, employees who have better interpersonal relationships with senior management will recognize and provide quality feedback on the good work being done.

Workplace Miscommunication

Managers who guarantee that the workplace is kept professional are also considered approachable. If you’re a manager, make sure you always let your staff know how you’re feeling so they know where you’re coming from. It can also let staff communicate directly with you and relieve stress.

Personal Relationships

It’s critical to make meaningful connections at work. As an employee, you spend more than half of your life at work, and your coworkers are frequently your friends outside of work. Interpersonal skills can aid in the formation of better work teams and the development of long-term partnerships.

Management and Leadership

One of the non-negotiable characteristics of a good team leader is fostering trust and communication effectively. 

When a boss lacks certain interpersonal abilities, it can cause employees to become confused, causing them to perform less productively or lose motivation.

Employee Success

Another important component is employee success, which managers must consider to assist their teams in working well. Leaders who can effectively communicate critical information and motivational phrases will see their people respond in the same way and achieve their business objectives much more quickly. These talents are also handed on to employees, who can apply them as they advance in their careers as leaders.

Managing Conflict

As ideas and concepts conflict, a successful workplace will always have disagreements. What matters is that these disputes are settled swiftly and intelligently, with no bad blood or stress between the parties. Interpersonal communication is critical for resolving disagreements and softening situations, particularly in high-stress workplaces.

Development of the Career

As more businesses seek strong communication skills, improvements in interpersonal interactions can help many employees advance in their professions.