Benefits of interpersonal skills in the workplace: All you need to know

Strong interpersonal skills
a person who is able to communicate, work in group an have a nice personality

A list of interpersonal skills
*Verbal Communication – What we say and how we say it.
*Non-Verbal Communication – What we communicate without words, body language is an example.
*Listening Skills – How we interpret both the verbal and non-verbal messages sent by others.
*Negotiation – Working with others to find a mutually agreeable outcome.
*Problem Solving – Working with others to identify, define and solve problems.
*Decision Making – Exploring and analysing options to make sound decisions.
*Assertiveness – Communicating our values, ideas, beliefs, opinions, needs and wants freely.

Tips when when stress levels or other emotions are running high.
Relax
When we are nervous we tend to talk more quickly and therefore less clearly. Being tense is also evident in our body language and other non-verbal communication. Instead, try to stay calm, make eye contact and smile. Let your confidence shine.

Clarify
Show an interest in the people you talk to. Ask questions and seek clarification on any points that could be easily misunderstood. (See Reflection and Clarification).

Be Positive
Try to remain positive and cheerful. People are much more likely to be drawn to you if you can maintain a positive attitude. More on Personal Presentation and Building Confidence.

Empathise
Understand that other people may have different points of view. Try to see things from their perspective. You may learn something whilst gaining the respect and trust of others.

Working in groups
We often find ourselves in group situations, professionally and socially. Learn all about the different types of groups and teams.

Negotiation
The fundamental base for relations is called negotiation
Learn how to effectively negotiate with others paving the way to mutual respect, trust and lasting interpersonal relations

Communication
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place to another.

Categories of communication
*Spoken or Verbal Communication: face-to-face, telephone, radio or television and other media.
*Non-Verbal Communication: body language, gestures, how we dress or act – even our scent.
*Written Communication: letters, e-mails, books, magazines, the Internet or via other media.
*Visualizations: graphs, charts, maps, logos and other visualizations can communicate messages.

Encoding messages
All messages must be encoded into a form that can be conveyed by the communication channel chosen for the message. We all do this every day when transferring abstract thoughts into spoken words or a written form. However, other communication channels require different forms of encoding, e.g. text written for a report will not work well if broadcast via a radio programme, and the short, abbreviated text used in text messages would be inappropriate if sent via a letter. Complex data may be best communicated using a graph or chart or other visualization.

Decoding messages
Once received, the receivers need to decode the message, and successful decoding is also a vital skill. Individuals will decode and understand messages in different ways based upon any Barriers to Communication which might be present, their experience and understanding of the context of the message, their psychological state, and the time and place of receipt as well as many other potential factors

Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication is the process by which people exchange information, feelings, and meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages: it is face-to-face communication, is not just about what is actually said – the language used – but how it is said and the non-verbal messages sent through tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures and body language.

Elements of personal communication
*The communicators: must be at least two or more people involved
*The message: Message not only means the speech used or information conveyed, but also the non-verbal messages exchanged such as facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures and body language
*Noise: The use of complicated jargon, inappropriate body language, inattention, disinterest, and cultural differences
*Feedback: Feedback consists of messages the receiver returns, which allows the sender to know how accurately the message has been received, as well as the receiver’s reaction.
*context: All communication is influenced by the context in which it takes place.
*The channel: The channel refers to the physical means by which the message is transferred from one person to another

Uses of interpersonal communication
*Give and collect information.
*Influence the attitudes and behavior of others.
*Form contacts and maintain relationships.
*Make sense of the world and our experiences in it.
*Express personal needs and understand the needs of others.
*Give and receive emotional support.
*Make decisions and solve problems.
*Anticipate and predict behavior.
*Regulate power.

Interpersonal skills

• Interpersonal skills are skills that people use to interact and communicate with individuals in an organization.
• Effective interpersonal skills ensure success as a team player in the organization, and promotion of a positive work environment.

Types of interpersonal skills in an organization

Assertiveness – This refers to the ability to communicate ideas and opinions freely.

Problem solving – This refers to the ability to work with others effectively in solving problems.

Decision making – This refers to the ability of an individual to explore and analyze available options, and make sound decisions.

Listening skills – This is the ability to interpret both the verbal and non-verbal messages accurately as transmitted from one person to another.

Negotiation – Negotiation is also an interpersonal skill that determines the ability to find a solution when faced with conflicting opinions and ideas.

Non-verbal and verbal communication with the former referring to communication without the use of words and latter referring to what and how we say or communicate with others using words.

Messages need to be encoded in a form that can be easily transmitted through the channel of choice. Some communication channels require specific encoding. e.g Radio broadcast cannot be used to encode a financial report. When the message is received, decoding the message begins. This is vital in any communication process as decoding may result in misinterpretation of the intended message. Decoding can be affected by barriers of communication, the experience of an individual receiving or decoding the message, the psychological state, and the time of receiving.

Elements of personal communication

The communicators, the message to be conveyed, the noise like use of complicated jargon, feedback which is returned by the receiver, context of the communication in which the process occurs, and finally the channel which is the physical means of message transmission from one person to another.

• Start by identifying areas that require improvement
• Focus on basic skills of communication]
• Work on your personal and social skills
• Apply your skills in particular situations
• After a period of time, reflect on what you have learned and improved with time

Benefits of interpersonal skills in the workplace

Employers seek to hire employees with strong interpersonal skills because they are desire to have people who effectively perform duties and roles assigned while communicating with customers and clients.

To improve interpersonal skills, listen, be positive, empathize, understand stress, and be assertive. Listen what others are saying verbally or non-verbally, be positive and cheerful, empathize (understand with people who have different views and opinions), recognize, manage and reduce stress in yourself and others, and lastly, aim to be assertive and not aggressive or passive, which entails presenting your views in a way that others can understand your feelings and beliefs with respect.