What is Interpersonal Communication? Types and Examples

Do you ever wonder why some people can form great relationships while others have difficulty even hearing their ideas? The secret, however, could be in their ability to communicate interpersonally.

These skills are crucial in modern society, where people encounter other people, whether physically or virtually, in their daily lives. Communication is essential whenever you have to talk to friends, on a college assignment, or just to understand your family better.

In this blog post, we will explain interpersonal communication, its importance, and ways to improve it. Let’s get started and explore how great it is to interact with other people!

What Is Interpersonal Communication?

Interpersonal communication refers to the exchange of information, attitudes, emotions, and perceptions between two or more people, verbally and non-verbally.

Interpersonal communication includes verbal communication, including talking, listening, and observing and/or interpreting other people’s or one’s own physical gestures. It can also occur virtually, such as through messaging or emailing.

Interpersonal communication is essential for interacting with other people in various organizations and organizations where people from different backgrounds work together. Fun and effective interpersonal communication also helps people develop effective ways of expressing themselves and understanding other people.

Types of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication can be categorized into several types, each with unique characteristics and importance:

• Verbal Communication involves using words and making the right selection of words to convey a message.
• Non-Verbal Communication: This type includes signalling by a movement of the body, face, and even hands.
• Listening: The ability to listen actively is, therefore, very important in communication processes. It entails listening to the speaker to the extent possible, recognizing the message that has been sent, and responding appropriately.
• The Written Word: Electronic communication, including e-mail, reports, and messages, is a significant part of interpersonal communication today.

How to Build Interpersonal Communication Skills

Here are some tips to improve interpersonal communication skills:

• Practice Active Listening: They should avoid interrupting the speaker and rather look into their eyes so that they can give feedback that they are following.
• Use Clear Language: Be clear in your communication by not using complex or technical terms that are not easily understood. This serves to safeguard your message to a level that everyone you are addressing will be able to understand, rated or otherwise.
• Be Aware of Non-Verbal Cues: Remember how you sit, stand, walk, and even fix your faces. These signals can reemphasize your message or, if not consistent, can create chaos for the recipient.
• Show Empathy: Emphasize empathy and the recognition of others’ moods. Trust is an essential aspect that is developed when individuals practice empathy within a given society.
• Build rapport: It can be aimed at making contact with people using words, jokes, or other forms of language; sharing similar opinions with other people; and using positive language.
• Accept Feedback: Constructive criticism has always been seen as an opportunity to make things better. Always allow yourself to be corrected and adapt to other people’s methods of communication.

Explore more tips on improving communication in leadership roles through our Managerial Communication resources.

Elements of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication consists of several key elements:

• The Communicating Parties: People are those who participate in the communication process, switching between the roles of the sender and the receiver.
• The message itself: The message itself involves all that is spoken and everything else that is communicated between the two parties.
• Extraneous Noise: Anything that poses a threat to the smooth flow of the message and could easily be interrupted or disrupted.
• Feedback: The feedback that is received from the receiver assists the sender of the message in assessing the impact made.
• Context: the context of the communication, which encompasses the physical, social, and even emotional environment that subsumes the communication.
• The Channel: The medium through which the message is conveyed, whether it be face-to-face, phone, email, or text.

For those interested in enhancing communication within projects, consider our PMP Certification course for advanced project management skills.

The Four Principles of Interpersonal Communication

The four principles:

1. It’s Unavoidable: Writing is also communication, even if it comes in the form of silence or no actual word. Signs, such as body language and signals, also deliver messages.
2. It’s irreversible: Once a message is transmitted, it cannot be retrieved. This is why clear and sophisticated language is relevant.
3. It’s Complicated: The process of communication is rather diverse and depends on cultural differences, personal perceptions, and even the mood of the participants.
4. It’s Contextual: The information content may differ depending on various contextual factors that may include the physical environment, the personalities of the communicators, and the occasion.

Learn how these principles apply in project management by watching our Project Management Tutorial.

Interpersonal Communication Examples

Here are some everyday examples of interpersonal communication:

• Emails: A kind of communication that should be to the point to avoid confusing the reader.
• Phone Calls are any verbal interaction over the phone that does not include any expression but an attendant caution over the words chosen.
• Presentations: This is done verbally by addressing an audience through either oral gestures or even written communication.
• Texting: Texting is a more relaxed and less professional style of writing characterized by the use of symbols, acronyms, or shortened words or phrases.

Difference Between Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is a two-way or more-way process where messages are exchanged between two or more people.

Conversely, interpersonal communication occurs between two people or two members of the same organization, while intrapersonal communication refers to communication within a single person, including self-talk.

Meanwhile, interpersonal communication is concerned with communication with other people, while intrapersonal communication is concerned with oneself.

The Importance of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is undoubtedly important in relation building, conflict handling, and cooperation in all spheres of life, both personal and business.

Effective communication skills can help improve working relationships, management skills, and efficiency at work, therefore being an advantage to any operation.

To learn more about project management and communication, see our Project Management Masters Program.

Conclusion

Interpersonal communication, therefore, is a fundamental human asset that influences all aspects of life. How we communicate defines the roles and interactions we participate in everything we do in our everyday lives—in the conversations we have in our heads, in how we listen, in our gestures, and in our documents.

A person becomes a more effective communicator by learning about the types and elements of communication and practising the skills described in this text. Good communication is also about always being mindful that it is much more than simply expressing one’s message and having it understood.

Therefore, whether you are preparing for an oral presentation in a class or writing or texting with friends or family, use the above suggestions. For more tips on gaining interpersonal skills for managers, explore our guide on How to Become A Project Manager.

FAQs

What is intrapersonal communication?

Intrapersonal communication is the communication that happens within oneself, like self-reflection.

Why is interpersonal communication so important?

It helps build relationships, resolve conflicts, and collaborate effectively in both personal and professional settings.

What are the 4 interpersonal communications?

The four types are verbal, non-verbal, listening, and written communication.

What are the five elements of interpersonal communication?

The five elements include the communicating parties, the message, extraneous noise, feedback, and context.