The way to interact with other people is highly reflected by one’s interpersonal communication skills. A person with better interpersonal skills will have a more appealing and effective approach to conveying his message to others.
Interpersonal communication can both build or ruin your personality in some ways. So, you must learn it. The effective tips that I am going to share with you in today’s article can improve your interpersonal communication skills.
Tips for Interpersonal Communication Skills:
Some of the most effective tips for improving your Interpersonal communication skills are listed below:
Tip 1 – Reflect on your current communication level:
You need to be aware of your existing communication ability level before you go on a road of self-improvement. You should not assume that just because you think you can communicate clearly – the other person can too.
So, you first need to know whether or not you can speak well. So, here’s how you can practice this tip:
- Record yourself (preferably video recording) speaking daily – see what and how you can speak.
- Note down your good and bad points while watching the video.
- If possible, try to record yourself while speaking with another person. It will assist you in understanding how you interact and approach other person about a particular topic.
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Tip 2 – Listen Attentively:
Malcolm Forbes says that the art of conversation lies in listening. He was not incorrect in what he said.
Most of the time while building a conversation, people think about what they should and should not speak about. They ignore an important part of attention, or half of the part, of conversation while doing so which is listening.
Without listening to the other person attentively, you’ll not be able to respond to him accurately. This tip is somehow useful for people who are dealing with clients all the time. Here are a few things that you can do to practice this tip:
- Try to build a conversation at a place where there are no distractions to disrupt you.
- Instead of focusing on the words, try to analyze the emotion of the speaker.
- Never interrupt the speaker unless you have to.
- You can ask questions to clarify something you didn’t understand. The other person will appreciate that you were trying to get them.
Tip 3 – Use Intonations Wisely:
Developing your conversational intonation skills is the finest way to enhance your interpersonal communication abilities. Intonations are the fluctuations in your tone while speaking.
In simple words, don’t speak with a low or a high tone constantly. That is because some points of a conversation need to be said in a lower tone and some in a higher tone. The same case applies to the speed of your speaking.
Once you understand these intonations, you will not only be able to communicate your idea but also deliver it with a huge impact on other people.
To apply this tip in your conversations, you can practice it in the following ways:
- Pick a person who you think has good communication skills and analyze how they use their tone.
- Understand the important points of the thing you have to talk about. Speak to them loudly and slowly.
- Everything that is just supportive can be said in a low and fast tone to save the time of the listener.
- Try to use this naturally. Otherwise, it will lose its impact.
Tip 4 – Don’t Ignore the Importance of the Body Gestures:
Last but not least, learning to use body gestures the right way in a conversation will help you deliver your ideas impactfully. These body gestures not only radiate confidence but also make the listener uncomfortable.
For instance, if you remain seated in the same posture the entire time, the speaker will think that you are not engaged in the discussion. However, it will convey your real interest in them if, for example, you slightly lean toward them when you think they are going to say something significant.
You use the movements of your hands while speaking (especially while explaining something). This is because it shows confidence, and the other person will listen to you attentively.
Some things you can do to practice this tip are:
- Don’t dose off mentally during the conversation.
- Try not to sit too close to another person unless you have to.
- Move your hands with a variation in speed to make it look natural.
Summary Lines
Learning Interpersonal communication skills can help you in several ways. You can utilize some tips to get better at it, just like you can with any other ability. The way to practice these points requires consistency in your efforts.
I have provided comprehensive details of these tips in the information given above. Make sure to read them out fully. To apply these tips in your improvement journey, we have discussed some practicing points that you can try out.
FAQs:
Does non-verbal communication also include in interpersonal communication?
Yes. Non-verbal communication, such as text messages, can also be considered interpersonal communication.
Can I sign up for any course that can help me learn this communication?
Yes. There are several courses available out there that can help you with learning this communication.
What’s the easiest way to practice interpersonal communication?
The easiest way to practice interpersonal communication is by talking to different people every day. This can help you improve your skills.
Can adding critical points in conversation help communicate with others?
Yes. This can be helpful. However, make sure that these points are positive.
