Interpersonal Communication: Definition, Skills, Types and Examples
What Is Interpersonal Communication?
Interpersonal communication is the exchange of verbal and non-verbal information between two or more people. The exchange includes thoughts, opinions, feelings, ideas, and information.
Interpersonal communication occurs through 3 primary channels: face-to-face conversation, phone calls, and digital platforms. Each channel carries a different mix of verbal and non-verbal signals. A phone call carries tone and pacing but removes facial expression. A face-to-face conversation carries all verbal and non-verbal signals at once.
According to a 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, communication ranks as the top in-demand soft skill among U.S. employers. Interpersonal communication forms the foundational layer of the broader communication skill category the LinkedIn report measures.
What Are the Types of Interpersonal Communication?
There are 4 types of interpersonal communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and listening.
Verbal Communication
Verbal communication is the transmission of a message through spoken words. Verbal communication includes word choice, tone, pace, and volume.
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is the transmission of a message without words. Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, posture, and physical distance.
Written Communication
Written communication is the transmission of a message through text. Written communication includes emails, text messages, reports, and social media posts.
Listening
Listening is the reception and interpretation of a spoken or nonverbal message. Listening splits into 2 modes: passive listening and active listening.
What Are the Elements of Interpersonal Communication?
Interpersonal communication contains 6 elements: sender, receiver, message, channel, feedback, and noise.
- Sender: the person who originates the message
- Receiver: the person who interprets the message
- Message: the information, idea, or emotion being communicated
- Channel: the medium that carries the message (voice, text, video, in-person)
- Feedback: the receiver’s response, which confirms or corrects the sender’s message
- Noise: any interference that distorts the message (background sound, ambiguous wording, cultural difference)
Noise reduces message accuracy at any point in the exchange. A sender removes noise by choosing precise words. A receiver removes noise by asking clarifying questions.
What Are Interpersonal Communication Skills?
Interpersonal communication skills are the specific abilities that make message exchange between people accurate and productive. There are 8 core interpersonal communication skills: active listening, empathy, feedback delivery, feedback reception, conflict management, negotiation, teamwork, and leadership communication.
Active Listening
Active listening is full attention to a speaker’s words and nonverbal cues without interruption. Active listening requires 4 specific behaviors: eye contact, paraphrasing, clarifying questions, and delayed response. Active listening raises message retention and reduces misunderstanding.
Empathy
Empathy is the recognition and acknowledgment of another person’s emotional state during communication. Empathy increases a receiver’s willingness to share information.
Feedback Delivery
Feedback delivery is the act of stating an observation about another person’s work or behavior. Effective feedback delivery states the observation, the impact, and a specific next step.
Feedback Reception
Feedback reception is the act of processing criticism without a defensive response. Feedback reception improves through 2 actions: pausing before responding and asking a clarifying question.
Conflict Management
Conflict management is the resolution of a disagreement between 2 or more people. Conflict management requires identification of the disagreement’s source before any resolution attempt.
Negotiation
Negotiation is the process of reaching an agreement between parties with different interests. Negotiation relies on clear communication of each party’s priorities.
Teamwork
Teamwork is the coordination of individual contributions toward a shared goal. Teamwork depends on transparent, two-way communication among team members.
Leadership Communication
Leadership communication is the direction and motivation of other people through clear verbal and written messages. Leadership communication combines instruction, motivation, and feedback.
What Are Examples of Interpersonal Communication?
There are 7 common examples of interpersonal communication: a job interview, feedback delivery at work, conflict resolution between coworkers, a team meeting, a customer service interaction, a wellness check with a colleague, and a request for help.
- A job interview: a candidate answers questions while a hiring manager evaluates tone, word choice, and body language
- Feedback delivery at work: a manager states an observation about a report’s errors and a correction path
- Conflict resolution between coworkers: two employees state their positions and identify a shared solution
- A team meeting: a presenter shares an idea and takes questions from the group
- A customer service interaction: a representative acknowledges a customer complaint and states a resolution
- A wellness check with a colleague: one coworker asks a direct question about another coworker’s well-being
- A request for help: an employee states a specific task and asks a specific colleague for assistance
Why Is Interpersonal Communication Important?
Interpersonal communication is important because interpersonal communication increases productivity, reduces conflict, and builds workplace trust.
According to a 2023 Grammarly Business report, employees spend over 70% of their workweek on communication tasks. According to the GMAC 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey, interpersonal and teamwork skills rank as the third most valued employee trait in the United States, after problem-solving and communication skills.
Interpersonal vs. Intrapersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication differs from intrapersonal communication in the number of participants involved. Interpersonal communication occurs between 2 or more people. Intrapersonal communication occurs within 1 person, as internal dialogue or self-talk.
Interpersonal communication produces external feedback from a receiver. Intrapersonal communication produces no external feedback because there is no separate receiver.
How to Improve Interpersonal Communication Skills
To improve interpersonal communication skills, a person completes 5 specific actions: practice active listening, use clear and concise language, observe nonverbal cues, request feedback, and build rapport through shared interests.
- Practice active listening by maintaining eye contact and paraphrasing the speaker’s statement
- Use clear and concise language by removing filler words and jargon from each sentence
- Observe nonverbal cues by matching body language to spoken tone
- Request feedback by asking a specific colleague for 1 direct observation per conversation
- Build rapport by identifying 1 shared interest or experience with each new contact
A person applies these 5 actions in any order, based on the person’s weakest skill area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of interpersonal communication? A job interview is an example of interpersonal communication, because a job interview involves the exchange of verbal and non-verbal information between two or more people.
What is the difference between interpersonal and intrapersonal communication? Interpersonal communication involves 2 or more people. Intrapersonal communication involves 1 person’s internal dialogue.
How many types of interpersonal communication exist? 4 types of interpersonal communication exist: verbal, nonverbal, written, and listening.
Why are interpersonal communication skills important at work? Interpersonal communication skills raise productivity, reduce conflict, and build trust between coworkers.
How does a person improve interpersonal communication skills? A person improves interpersonal communication skills through 5 actions: active listening, clear language, nonverbal observation, feedback requests, and rapport building.
Interpersonal communication is the exchange of verbal and non-verbal information between two or more people.