Interpersonal communication is the process of sharing ideas and emotions verbally and nonverbally

with another person. It allows us to interact with and understand others in our personal and
professional lives. In the workplace, hiring managers often look for employees with strong
interpersonal skills who will collaborate and communicate well with their colleagues. In this article,
we will describe the importance of interpersonal skills in your career.

What are interpersonal skills?

Interpersonal skills—also known as people skills—are the soft skills you use to communicate with
and understand others. You use these skills daily when interacting with people face-to-face.
Examples of interpersonal skills include:

Active listening

Teamwork

Responsibility

Dependability

Leadership

Motivation

Flexibility

Patience

Empathy

Conflict resolution

Negotiation

Many interpersonal skills involve communication. That communication can be verbal—such as

persuasion or tone of voice—or nonverbal—such as listening and body language.

Why interpersonal skills are important

Interpersonal skills are important for communicating and working with groups and individuals in
your personal and professional life. People with strong interpersonal skills tend to build good
relationships and can work well with others. They understand family, friends, coworkers and clients
well. People often enjoy working with colleagues who have good interpersonal skills.
Other benefits of interpersonal skills include the ability to solve problems and make good decisions.
You can use interpersonal communication skills and the ability to understand others to come to the
best solution or make the best decision for everyone involved.

Many employers try to hire staff with strong interpersonal skills because these individuals often
work well on teams and collaborate with their colleagues effectively. People with interpersonal skills
also tend to make good leaders because of their ability to communicate with and motivate those
around them.

Interpersonal skills that are important at work

While all interpersonal skills can benefit people in the workplace, interpersonal communication is
key to working as a team and reaching shared goals. Here are six interpersonal communication skills
that are particularly significant at work.

Verbal communication

Your ability to speak clearly, confidently and appropriately for the situation can help you
communicate effectively with others. Choose the correct tone and vocabulary for your audience.

For instance, speak formally and professionally during meetings and presentations. Avoid using
complex or technical language when trying to explain things or when talking to customers. Ask
questions when you need to clarify information.

How to improve interpersonal skills

You can develop your interpersonal skills by practicing good communication and setting goals for
improvement. To improve your interpersonal skills, consider the following tips:

Figure out what you need to improve. Identify areas of interpersonal communication you can
strengthen by asking for feedback from colleagues, managers, family or friends.

Watch others. Learn good interpersonal skills by observing coworkers, company leaders and
professionals you admire and respect. Watch and listen to how they communicate and what body
language they use. Note details such as their tone of voice, speed of speaking and how they engage
with others. Apply those traits to your own interactions and relationships.

Learn to control your emotions. Wait until you are calm to have conversations with colleagues. You
are more likely to communicate confidently and effectively if you have a positive attitude and are
not stressed or upset.
Reflect on your interactions. Keep notes or a journal about your conversations and interactions at
work so you can learn how to handle or communicate things better. Consider whether you could
have reacted differently or used certain words or body language more effectively. Note positive
interactions, as well, so you can understand why they were successful.

Practice your skills: Put yourself in positions where you can build relationships and use your
interpersonal skills. For example, you might join a group that has organized meetings or social
events. This could be an industry-specific group you found through a professional organization or a
shared interest or hobby group. Attend events to learn and observe how to communicate and
behave with others.

Acknowledge others. Pay attention to your friends and colleagues and make efforts to interact with
them. Compliment coworkers on their hard work or good ideas. Bring your colleague a cup of coffee.
Ask team members how their week was or what their interests are to get to know them better. Offer
to help someone who is having a bad day or a difficult time. These steps can help you build stronger,
more positive working relationships.

Avoid distractions. Put away your phone or mobile device when interacting or communicating with
others. Give them your full attention and avoid the temptation to check your email or look at a text
message. By staying focused, you can listen and understand more effectively.

Take classes. Sign up for workshops or courses that can help you improve your interpersonal skills.
Tools such as basic online videos might be free, while you might have to pay for more advanced or
in-person training. If you want to develop your verbal communication skills, for instance, you might
take a public speaking course.

Get a mentor. Ask an individual you respect or admire to help you improve your interpersonal skills.
Your mentor could be a trusted colleague, a current or former employer or professor, a family
member or anyone else you think highly of. You might even hire a professional career or
communication coach.

Record yourself. Use a video or voice recorder to tape yourself speaking, then watch or listen to it to
identify where you can improve your communication skills. Note things you would like to change or
develop, such as your tone of voice, speed of talking, expression, word choice or body language.
Take recordings periodically so you can assess your progress.

Interpersonal communication skills can help you be productive in the workplace, build strong and
positive relationships with your colleagues and complete team projects smoothly and effectively.
The benefits of good interpersonal skills can affect the morale and productivity of your entire team
or department.