Whether working remotely or in person, employees need to be skilled at clearly interacting and communicating with their colleagues to be able to do their jobs.
Acquiring training in communication, for example by earning a bachelor’s degree in communication, can enable individuals to develop a foundational level of effective messaging skills. Another way to develop interpersonal communication skills is through intentional practice.
What Are Interpersonal Communication Skills?
Our interpersonal communication skills are the tools we use to interact and share ideas with others. People regularly employ their interpersonal communication skills at work when they are brainstorming, sharing information and collaborating with their co-workers, customers and other professionals outside of their organization. Interpersonal communication skills can also help individuals interact successfully with friends, family and acquaintances outside of work.
Why Are Interpersonal Skills Important for Professionals?
Developing their interpersonal communication skills is one way for individuals to improve their ability to connect with others, which is beneficial to professionals across all jobs and industries. By using well-honed communication skills, individuals are contributing to more effective team operations, higher overall productivity and a welcoming workplace culture.
Most professionals need to be able to communicate effectively one-on-one and with teams or other groups of people to successfully perform their jobs. Those working in marketing and public relations roles also must be skilled at communicating to large audiences.
6 Interpersonal Communication Skills
Following are descriptions of six types of interpersonal communication skills and how they are helpful in professional settings.
1. Empathy
Being able to understand how others are feeling is a powerful interpersonal communication skill. People who cultivate the emotional intelligence required to feel and express empathy are more likely to be able to foster authentic and influential connections in the workplace. Empathy is a valuable soft skill that can allow professionals to enhance their work environment by being able to understand and thus respond to their colleagues’ varying perspectives.
2. Active Listening Skills
Active listening involves listening closely to what others are saying and responding verbally and nonverbally in such a way that they know they are being heard. Verbal demonstrations of active listening include asking follow-up questions and making relevant comments. Nonverbal demonstrations of active listening include leaning forward toward the speaker and nodding along to signal their engagement.
3. Flexibility
Different audiences call for different types of messaging. This means good communicators know how to be flexible in how they speak to others. To ensure they are being understood, individuals need to be able to adjust their tone, phrasing, delivery and other elements of their communication style based on their audience and message.
4. Negotiation Skills
The ability to negotiate is key to success in life, both inside and outside of the workplace. Disagreements about processes, systems, results and other aspects of the work being done are a natural part of professional environments. Being able to skillfully negotiate with others to reach agreement can help individuals reduce the number of conflicts they have at work and lead to an environment where constructive compromise becomes the norm.
5. Awareness
Similar to active listening skills and empathy, awareness is an interpersonal communication skill that relies on paying attention to one’s audience when communicating. Being skilled at taking note of a person’s facial expressions, posture, level of eye contact and other nonverbal cues can aid an individual in deciphering whether or not they are successfully communicating with that person.
6. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is an often overlooked interpersonal communication skill. However, it is important that professionals know how to be direct when they are communicating to avoid their message being misinterpreted and to ensure their point of view is presented. Professionals who are skilled at clearly and respectfully expressing their ideas and needs in writing and verbally are able to minimize any confusion about what they are saying and promote a more productive work environment.
How to Develop Interpersonal Communication Skills
Effective interpersonal communication skills are required in nearly all positions, and crucial in leadership roles. As University at Albany Department of Communication lecturer Dawn Sohns says, “Your communication can truly shape how other people view you.”
Here are some tips for developing high-level interpersonal communication skills.
Understand the Structure of Successful Communication
There are multiple layers to successful communication, and pursuing a formal education in the subject can help students identify what makes communication effective or ineffective — and why. UAlbany’s bachelor’s in communication program teaches students the different elements of verbal and nonverbal communication to help them prepare for careers in public relations, organizational communications, government and beyond.
Attend Events That Prompt Communication
One of the best ways to develop any type of skill is to practice. You can develop interpersonal communication skills by attending events that prompt you to engage in mindful communication with others. Networking events and workshops are great opportunities to practice and enhance active listening skills, empathy, awareness and other interpersonal communication skills.
Ask for Feedback
Feedback can be a valuable tool in honing a skill. Individuals can ask their supervisors, professors and colleagues how well they are communicating and what aspects of their communication techniques need improvement. Gaining multiple perspectives on their personal communication style can be highly insightful and influential to those who are working on improving their skills.
Develop Your Interpersonal Communication Skills at UAlbany
Strong interpersonal communication skills can help you pivot toward a new profession or succeed in your current role. By applying these skills in the workplace, you can develop better work relationships, minimize your conflicts with others, simplify your work processes and improve your overall job satisfaction.
UAlbany’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication program is designed to help students develop the oral, written and analytical communication skills they need to enhance the communication techniques and systems central to all industries. Offered both online and on campus, the program covers topics that include public speaking, media campaigns and persuasion, helping students understand communication in interpersonal, organizational and public contexts while improving their ability to communicate effectively.
Explore UAlbany’s communication programs today.
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