Interpersonal Communication

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others. ~ Anthony Robbins

Interpersonal communication is the process that helps us express our feelings, ideas, and thoughts and share them with the people around us. Efficient interpersonal communication is a very good quality that helps people in every aspect of life be it personal or professional. It is the process where a person expresses his thoughts, converts the thoughts into a well designed message and sends the message across a communication channel (oral, visual, written, etc) and the receiver receives the message and responds to the message and sends his reply via the communication channel. Interpersonal communication can be a formal dialog between two people at a workplace, or even an informal tête-à-tête between two friends. Communication can occur with or without words and through a number of communication media.

1. Oral Communication (Speaking face-to-face or on the phone)
2. Written Communication (Writing emails, letters, instant messaging and texting)
3. Visual Communication (Body Language or sign language)

Factors that Determine the Efficiency of Communication

1. Clarity of Message: The way in which the sender presents a message plays an instrumental role in the success or failure of the communication process. A message should be formulated taking into account the receiver's frame of mind and simple message formulation that conveys the correct meaning.

2. Communication Channel: Choose the right communication channel according to the situation and the receiver. For example think whether in a particular situation having a face-to-face conversation would be a better option instead of speaking on the phone, or writing an email.

3. Rapport between Sender and Receiver: If the sender and the receiver share a common background and have faced similar experiences, it increases the mutual understanding level and hence enhances the outcome of the communication process. The development of rapport will depend on the educational background, social background, family upbringing and the kind of experiences the person has come across.

Styles of Interpersonal Communication

There are various styles of this form of communication and that we adopt into our lives depending on how we need it.

Controlling Style
The controlling style is actually a style of interpersonal communication wherein the sender leaves little or no room for the receiver to provide feedback or reply. People who are generally senior in workplace hierarchy use it to communicate with their subordinates and although this style might prove to be an efficient form of communication during crisis situations, it can intimidate the receiver or the audience and can actually create a communication gap.

Egalitarian Style
The Egalitarian style is much more efficient than the controlling style since it facilitates healthy two-way communication wherein information is shared mutually. This style of communication encourages the participants to express their ideas and hence creates a cooperative and healthy atmosphere.

Structuring Style
The structuring style is generally used to communicate specific goals and bring coordination to an organization. To avoid making this a one-way conversation it is always better to modify this style and keep it more open to responses from the audience.

Dynamic Style
This is style is a high-energy approach which involves use of motivating words and phrases to encourage the person to get inspired and achieve a certain goal. However this style cannot function when the receiver does not have enough knowledge about the required action desired out of him/her.

Relinquishing Style
The relinquishing style is highly open for ideas to the extent that it can transfer the responsibility of the communication to the receiver. This style of communication works well when the sender and the receiver are equally interested in carrying the conversation ahead.

Withdrawal Style
It is ironic to call this process a style of interpersonal communication since the withdrawal style is basically the failure or lack of communication. This is a style is where a person shows complete disinterest to participate in the communication process or carry it forward.