Interpersonal skills

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Communication

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

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.

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

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.

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

Interpersonal skills

The life skills we use every day to communicate and interact with other people, both individual and in groups

Working in groups

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

Strong interpersonal skills

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