Abhay Kale

Unit IV
Interpersonal Communication
It is the process of exchange of information, ideas and feelings between 2 or more people
through verbal or nonverbal methods. It often includes face to face exchange of information, in
a form of voice, facial expressions, body language and gestures.
Interpersonal communication in the workplace plays an important role in employee
satisfaction, motivation, collaboration and business success. The level of one’s interpersonal skill
is measured through the effectivensess of transferring messages to others.
Interpersonal communication within an organization include daily internal employee
communication, client meetings, employee performance, reviews and project discussion. In
addition, online conversations, today make a large portion of employee’s interpersonal
communication in the work place.
Interpersonal communication is valued. It is necessary to possess verbal skills in order to work
effectively with your colleagues and bosses.
Why are interpersonal skills so important/crucial for business
success?
1) Problem solving – Allows people to discuss problems and also the various brain storming
sessions are very important. It is also important that everyone should feel respected and
free to share their voice, ideas and views.
2) Alignment with business goals – Poor communication between employer and employees
can harm the business in many ways. Many managers, leaders are unable to clearly
communicate tasks, workers become quickly frustrated and disconnected with the business
goals. The role of manager is important to effectively convey and continuously align
employees with the business strategy.
3) Trust – Be open with them. Lack of trust and transparency are causes of poor workplace
communication.
4) Company culture – It can be defined as a set of shared values, goals, attitudes and practices
that characterize an organization.
Why are interpersonal skills so important/crucial for business
success?
5) Workplace communication – Managers who maintain professionalism, open workplace
communication and a positive attitude are seen as approachable by their employees. If they feel
they can speak openly, gossip, workplace miscommunication will be less.
6) Personal relationships – People with good interpersonal communication skills can build
healthy relationship with their colleagues and work much better as a team.
7) Effective management and leadership – The ability to instill and foster interpersonal
relationships, build trust and communicate clearly are all crucial skills for an effective leader.
Organizational Communication
It is defined as the channels and forms of communication in which organizations, corporations,
NGO’s, government bodies engage in both internal and external communications.
Organizational communication includes employee training modules, interpersonal
communications between management and employees, professional communication such as
emails. Communications such as public relations announcement, press releases, marketing
materials and branding.
Organizational communication is important in all industries. It’s just isn’t academic prevalent its
prevalent in any workplace.
Organizations with effective communication have a number of techniques to get it right.
Some examples of effective organizational communication:
Team meetings – Team meetings are important part of organizational communication. Teams
should regularly share ideas, ask for feedback and voice their opinions freely.
Organizational Communication
Remote work training – Business communications can be difficult when employees are not
sharing the same workplace. The best companies provide remote work training to ensure that
all employees know how to communicate.
Feedback – A successful business is where employee communications are prioritized. They are
always looked to improve organizational communication techniques and feedback.
Social events – Effective communications are can’t take place if colleagues are awkward or
uncomfortable around each other. Social events such as team building exercises help to create
open, honest, professional relationships and show employees effective ways to communicate.
A successful organization builds employee’s attitudes by organizing social events, encouraging
them to interact. Social events create positive organizational cultures and lift employee spirits.
Types of organizational communication
Organizational communication can be split into 4 categories:
1. Formal and informal communication – Formal communication is often used when
communicating with customers and clients. The key to formal communication is
professionalism. It calls for careful wording and communication strategy. It makes
miscommunication unlikely and organizational success likely. Informal communication is
also known as ‘grapevine’ communication. Employees use informal communication to
connect to each other, meet face to face, in team meetings, to ask questions or share work
via email. Many organizations favour informal over formal communication as it can help
employees feel more in control of their own workload. However , miscommunication is
more likely as informal communication is less strategic.
2. Directional communication – Organizational communication is directional. The way we
communicate changes depending on the position of the person we are talking to. There are
3 types of directional communication : downward, upward and horizontal.
Types of organizational communication
Downward communication is most commonly used in instructional sense. It refers to an
employee communicating with another employee in a low ranking position.
 A supervisor discussing work performance with frontline employee.
 CEO sending mass email about upcoming changes.
 A manager delegating tasks in a team meeting.

Upward communication is the reversal of downward communication.

 A frontline employee asking a manager for advice or guidance on a task.
 An employee giving feedback to a supervisor or manager.
 A frontline employee sharing information with a supervisor.
Types of organizational communication
Horizontal communication refers to the communication of employees on the same hierarchial
level.
 A team meeting to share ideas.
 Managers reporting to other managers on the result of their team tasks. It often occurs face to
face.
3. Internal communication – It focuses on the way employees interact with one another which
includes:
 Professional collaboration via video, email or livechat.
 Interpersonal communications between management and employees.
 Workplace social activities.
Businesses need to ensure that employees can bond, make professional connections.
Types of organizational communication
4. External communication applies to the way an organization communicates with the outside
world which includes:
 Public relations announcements by social media or radio.
 Marketing materials.
 Branding of products or services.
 Job posts and hiring or recruitment drives.
 Customer support.
 Communication with stakeholders.
External communication is important for building a brand as well as maintaining strong
customer relationships.
Types of organizational communication
Final category is oral and written communication
Oral (spoken) communication- It is the way a person communicates face to face to their
colleagues, employees or customers. Oral communication helps us to form stronger
relationships and build trust.
Written communication – It is also important in running a business. It occurs via email, instant
messages and social media and can be both formal and informal. Written communication is less
impulsive and more strategic.
Importance of organizational communication
It is essential in building a business. The downfall of an organization is often a result of
ineffective communication.
Good organizational communication can help employees feel more engaged with their work
and the business as a whole. They are likely to find their role more satisfying, feel trusted by
their employer and more motivated to reach goals and please outcomes.
Strong communication also means employees will have greater understanding of the business
and their role within it.
Relational communication
It is a process of communication which involves family relationships, friendships, also romantic
relationships.
Communication plays an important role in forming relationships.
In fact it is a tool to strengthen relationship whenever a person requires love, satisfaction and
reassurance from the person he or she is in relation with.
It is referred to as the subset of interpersonal communication.
It studies verbal and nonverbal communication in a relationship. eg, relation between parents
and their children evolving over a period of time, sense of touch ranging from being
affectionate to violent.
Principles of relational communication
There are 5 basic principles on which relational communication stands.
 Based on interaction
Experts suggest that relationship emerges, strengthens or dissolves based on interaction. i.e. by
communication, both verbal and nonverbal.
 Verbal or nonverbal message
An affectionate stare or even a romantic. Always differentiate from the continuous stare of a
stranger.
 Communication is the key
It simply means that communication plays an important role in the formation or breaking up of
a relationship.
Principles of relational communication
 Communication is dynamic
Communication is a varying entity rather than a constant element. The behavior of parents or
their way of communication changes as their child grows up and vice versa.
 Relational communication can follow a linear trajectory
It can be linear means, it transcends from being formal to informal and forming an in depth
relationship. But some believe in a non linear path which may include ups and downs,
misunderstandings and contradictions.
Theories of relational communication
Various theories are put forward on relational communication.
 Dominance versus Submission – can influence a relationship. Both verbal and nonverbal
communication is used.
 Intimacy – depends upon the degree of affection, trust, in depth involvement. All play an
important part in relational communication.
 Chemistry – shown by agreement with each other, common view point, showing affection or
fondness or it may include talking, dressing in a similar manner.
 Emotional connectivity – involving various emotions from love, anger, anxiety, distress,
sadness, feeling of excitement affection and happiness.
 Way of interaction - the way people interact while meeting clearly shows their level of
communication in a relation. A formal tone or reserved or stiffness reflects the absence of
interpersonal communication.
Theories of relational communication
 Social composure in the presence of someone – comfortable or awkward while interacting
publicly, includes eye contact, usage or appropriate words at the right moments and speaking
with fluency.
Interpersonal communication is the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between
people, regardless of the relationship that they share.
Relational communication is a subset of interpersonal communication focused on expression
and interpretation of messages within close relationships.
Thank you