Interpersonal Communication

 

What Is Interpersonal Communication?

Interpersonal communication involves the exchange of information between individuals. What makes it unique is:

• Direct and immediate feedback

• Strong influence of non-verbal communication

• Close physical proximity

• Can be formal or informal, depending on context and relationships

Sounds simple, right? Not quite. Human beings come with emotions, habits, cultures—and baggage.

Interpersonal Barriers to Communication

Interpersonal communication is affected by psychology, relationships, environment, culture, and circumstances. Below are the most common reasons it fails.

1. Limited Vocabulary

Words matter. A lot.

• Inadequate vocabulary restricts expression.

• Poor word choice leads to misunderstanding.

• A rich vocabulary helps communicate ideas clearly and confidently.

Tip: If you can’t find the right words, your ideas stay trapped. Read more. Speak better.

2. Incompatibility of Verbal and Non-Verbal Messages

When words say one thing and body language says another—confusion wins.

• Non-verbal cues often speak louder than words.

• Mismatch between tone, facial expressions, and gestures creates doubt.

• Judging people solely by physical appearance can also become a barrier.

Guidelines to Improve Appearance (Yes, it matters):

• Dress appropriately for the occasion

• Wear clean, neat clothes

• Maintain a suitable hairstyle

• Keep shoes clean and polished

Reality check: You may not be judged by your clothes—but you’ll definitely be noticed.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c7G3z1PLio

3. Emotional Outburst

Emotions are powerful… and dangerous communicators.

• Anger shuts down rational discussion.

• Extreme emotions distort messages.

• Even excessive excitement can cloud clarity.

The solution isn’t emotionless communication—but emotional intelligence:

• Self-awareness

• Empathy

• Control

Strong emotions don’t make messages strong—clarity does.

4. Communication Selectivity

Listening only to what you want to hear.

• The receiver focuses on selective parts of the message.

• The rest? Ignored. Forgotten. Deleted mentally.

• This barrier is created by the receiver, not the sender.

Example:
In a CEO’s meeting, each department head listens only to points related to their division—missing the larger vision.

Lesson: Selective listening leads to selective understanding.

5. Cultural Variations

A major barrier in today’s global world.

• Different languages, customs, and business practices affect meaning.

• What’s polite in one culture may be rude in another.

• Applies equally to education, workplaces, and international interactions.

Global communication demands cultural awareness, not assumptions.

6. Poor Listening Skills

Hearing is physical. Listening is mental.

• Listening requires attention and interpretation.

• Emotional disturbance, boredom, aggression, and distractions reduce listening quality.

• Divided attention = diluted communication.

• If listening were easy, misunderstandings wouldn’t be this popular.

7. Noise in the Channel

Noise is not just sound—it’s anything that interferes.

Types of Noise:

• Physical/Technical: machine noise, poor acoustics, faulty microphones

• Visual/Written: illegible handwriting, cluttered slides

• Psychological: stress, bias, preoccupation

Even late arrivals to meetings count as noise—yes, punctuality is communication too.

MCQs 

1. Anything that obstructs the free flow of communication is called:
   a) Feedback
   b) Noise
   c) Encoding
   d) Channel
   
   

2. Immediate feedback is a key feature of __________ communication.
   a) Mass
   b) Written
   c) Interpersonal
   d) Organizational
   
   

3. When spoken words and body language do not match, it creates:
   a) Cultural variation
   b) Emotional outburst
   c) Incompatibility of verbal and non-verbal messages
   d) Poor listening
   
   

4. Selective attention to only relevant parts of a message is known as:
   a) Noise
   b) Communication selectivity
   c) Cultural barrier
   d) Emotional barrier
   

True / False 

5. Non-verbal communication plays a minor role in interpersonal communication.
   
   

6. Emotional outbursts can disrupt rational communication.
   
   

7. Noise in communication refers only to loud sounds.
   

Fill in the Blanks

8. Inadequate __________ can hinder effective communication.
   
   

9. Understanding different customs and languages helps reduce __________ barriers.
   
   

10. Poor listening is a barrier caused mainly by the __________.