Interpersonal Communication

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION Interpersonal communication is the process of sending and receiving information between two or more peoples. Sender gets straightaway response interpersonal communication. PROCESS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION The sender encodes the message through a channel which is decoded by the receiver who may provide the feed-back. TYPES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 1. Verbal Communication: It is a type of communication done by using words. It can be both written and oral. It includes letters, memorandums, e-mails, faxes, telephonic talks, etc. 2. Non-verbal Communication: It is a type of communication transmitted without usage of words. It includes appearance, body language and space, time and silence. 3. Grapevine (Informal Communication): Grapevine is the informal organizational communication network. COMMUNICATION CHANNELS Channels which we use for communication can be direct and indirect. 1. Direct Channel: Using direct channel means that there is a face-to-face interaction between the sender and receiver while communicating the message. 2. Indirect Channel: Using indirect channel means that there is not a face-to-face interaction between the sender and receiver and a device like telephone or computer is used while communication.

BARRIERS AGAINST SUCCESSFUL INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: 1. Emotions: Extreme emotions are most likely to hinder against effective communication because the ideal or message maybe misinterpreted. 2. Filtering: This is where the sender manipulates the information that he communicates to the receiver. The purpose of this is because sometimes people would shape and reform the message so that it appears and sounds favorable to the receiver. 3. Overloaded with Information: Too much information about the same subject matter may be confusing. Normally, the human brain can only take in so much information to process, overloading it with information will exceed our human processing capacity and the receiver would often misunderstand or not understand at all what the sender is telling them. 4. Defensiveness: Defensiveness normally consists of attacking what the sender tells you, putting out sarcastic remarks, questioning their motives or being overly judgmental about the subject matter. 5. Cultural Difference: Sometimes our culture may be a huge hinder for effective interpersonal communication. When two people with different cultures communicate, they often do not understand each other's cultures and may misunderstand the true meaning of what each other are trying to convey through such a sense. 6. Jargon: Not everyone understands each other's jargon words. Jargon should be avoided especially when talking to someone who isn't familiar with you personally or within your organization.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 1. COMMUINATE IN UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE: Communication should be always done in the language which is understandable by the receiver. 2. MESSAGE SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE: Four conditions influence the effectiveness of interpersonal message of communication: 1. Skills: The message should be conveyed skillfully so that it becomes understandable properly by the receiver. 2. Attitudes: The preexisting ideas (attitudes) of the sender directly affect the message he or she conveys and also the receiver of the message. 3. Knowledge of the Sender: The amount of knowledge the sender has about the subject will also affect as we can't communicate what we don't know and if knowledge of sender is too extensive, it's possible that his or her message is not understood by the receiver. 4. Socio-Cultural System: The beliefs and values (part of culture) act to influence what and how the sender communicates. 3. USE FEED-BACK: Many communication problems can be directly attributed to misunderstandings and inaccuracies. These problems are less likely to occur if the manager uses the feedback loop in the communication process. This feed-back can be verbal or non-verbal. 4. INTENDED RECEIVER SHOULD RECEIVE THE MESSAGE: There will be no use of doing the communication if the person intended to receive the message doesn't receives the message. To avoid this type problem, confidential messages should be orally or personally conveyed.

5. USE “YOU” APPROACH: “You” approach should be used instead of “I” or “we” approach while delivering the message. The sender should focus on how message will benefit receivers, what will they receive, and what they want or need to know. 6. PLAN MESSAGE BEFORE: Message should be first planed by the sender before delivering it so that it can be organized in a proper form. A disorganized message might leave no impact on receiver of the message while doing interpersonal communication. 7. SEVEN C’S OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: To compose effective written or oral message, sender has to apply certain communication principles. These principles provide guidelines for choice of content and style of presentation called the seven Cs. 1. Completeness: Completeness means that the message contains all

the information and facts needed by the receiver to provide the desired feed-back to the sender. 2. Conciseness: Conciseness is the principle to express a message in

the fewest words without sacrificing other Cs’ qualities. 3. Consideration: Consideration means to prepare the message while

considering your self in the position of reader/listener. 4. Courtesy: Courtesy means “politeness, civility, affability and

socially accepted manners”. In simple words, it means to show respect. 5. Concreteness: Concreteness principle means that a message

should contain solid based information. 6. Clarity: Clarity simply means that the words used in the message

should be clear and simple.

7. Correctness: This principle states that the information of message

should be correct and message should be according to the rules of language in which it is conveyed. 8. MAINTAIN EYE-CONTACT: Eye-contact should be kept during direct conversation which should be clear, acceptable and social. Speakers who stare off into space or keep their eyes glued to their feet do not inspire much attention or confidence. 9. BODY LANGUAGE SHOULD BE APPROPRAITE: Body language refers to gestures, facial expressions and other body movements that convey meaning. Non-verbal language accounts for 93% of the massage while actual word accounts for 7% only. Body language of sender should be up to that mark that is acceptable be the receiver. 10. TONE SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL: Tone of the voice of the sender should show respect for the receiver. It shouldn’t show anger in any case. A level, well-modulated conversational tone is persuasive without being intimidating. The tone, inflection, volume and fluency, all matter a great deal to have a successful interpersonal communication.