Interpersonal Communication Assignment: Effective Communication Skills

This assignment solution covers various aspects of interpersonal communication, starting with identifying barriers such as language, lack of attention, and differences in perception, and then providing strategies to overcome them, including active listening and empathy. It explores the roles of speakers and listeners, the importance of rapport, and how to develop relationships through various approaches like interacting and conducting meetings. The solution also differentiates between hearing and listening, detailing the listening process, styles, and the effects of gender and culture. It addresses barriers to effective listening and qualities of a good listener, along with strategies to improve listening skills. Additionally, it delves into personal communication styles, assertiveness, techniques for assertive communication, and the process of giving and receiving criticism. The assignment further examines conflict in interpersonal situations, approaches to conflict resolution, and conflict management skills. It also covers verbal and non-verbal communication, the characteristics and power of language, and how to enhance skills in sending and interpreting messages. Finally, it explores intercultural communication, including cultural differences, the importance of effective intercultural communication, barriers to it, and strategies to improve intercultural communication competence.

Running head: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal Communication
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Week 2
1. Identify barriers to effective communication
Answer-
 Language
 Lack of eye contact
 Noise and interruption
 Lack of credibility
 Difference in perception
 Lack of attention
 Lack of interest
2. Strategies to overcome communication barriers
Answer-
 Paying attention
 Being empathetic
 Asking questions
 Active listening
 Avoiding distractions
3. Roles of speakers and listeners
Answer-
 Information gathering
 Problem solving
 Relational sharing
 Opinion dispensing

2INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
WEEK 3
1. Rapport and its role in interpersonal communication
Answer- Rapport refers to the state of proportional understanding with the other individuals
which enable effective and easier communication. The role of interpersonal communication
include:
 Helps in successful communication
 Develops trust
 Fosters the desire of the candidates to participate in the communication process
 For understanding one another.
2. Interpersonal relationships and why they are important
Answer- Interpersonal relationship refers to the strong, close and very deep bonding or
association among two or more individuals. Building interpersonal relationships is important
for improving the decision making process and to ensure greater satisfaction
3. Approaches to relationship development
Answer-
 Interacting with the peers and subordinates more often
 Conducting meetings
 Arranging outings
 Being positive and appreciating others
 Avoiding gossips
 Listening actively
4. Strategies to enhance rapport and relationship development
Answer-

3INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Accepting and celebrating differences
 Listening actively
 Giving time
 Developing one’s own communication skills
 Giving and taking feedbacks
 Developing empathy
WEEK 4:
1. Building relationships
Answer-
 Developing trust
 Making friends
 Asking questions
 Communicating effectively
2. The difference between just hearing and really listening
Answer- Hearing is the ability of an individual to perceive sounds and listening refers to
something that is done consciously and understanding the sounds. Hearing is an ability, while
listening is a skill. Listening is temporary in nature but hearing is permanent.
3. The listening process
Answer- The process of listening starts from hearing at first. Then the next step is filtering
and then comprehending, remembering and finally responding.
4. The Importance of effective listening
Answer-

4INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Helps in avoiding miscommunication while interacting
 Gaining new knowledge
 Helps in improving the quality of relationship
 Helps in better understanding of the ideas and facts
5. Different listening styles
Answer-
 Discriminative listening
 Critical listening
 Relationship listening
 Appreciative listening
6. Effects of gender and culture on listening.
Answer- Culture effects on the speech, the non-verbal communication and the behaviours of
the individuals. Gender effects the style of listening, responding and the ability of listening.
WEEK 5
1. Common barriers to effective listening
Answer-
 Lack of attention
 Distraction
 Noise
 Bringing in emotions
2. Qualities that make a good listener
Answer-

5INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Pays attention to the speaker
 Keeps eye contact
 Shows interest by nodding head and smiling when required
 Ensures that he is understanding what is being speaking and repeats the same in his or
her own words
 Don’t show gesture signs
 Gives two to three seconds of pause time
3. Strategies to improve your listening skills
Answer-
 Paying attention
 Getting clarified
 Validating the speaker
 Paraphrasing
 Keeping eye contact
 Avoiding noise and other type of distractions
WEEK 6
1. Personal communication styles
Answer-
 Passive
 Aggressive
 Assertive
 Passive-aggressive
2. Assertiveness in effective interpersonal communication

6INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Answer- It features an open minded communication link while not being over-bearing. This
type of communicators could express their own desires, requirements, feelings and ideas
while considering the same of others as well.
3. Techniques of assertive communication
Answer-
 Fogging
 The stuck record technique
 Positive and negative enquiry
4. Giving and receiving criticism
Answer-
 Being positive
 Being objective
 Being specific
 Being constructive
WEEK 7
1. The nature of conflict in interpersonal situations
Answer- There are different types on interpersonal conflicts and they are dyadic conflict and
group conflict. The nature of these conflicts differ according to the styles of leadership as
well as the prevailing norms, the availability of the resources, the collective and individual
talents, experiences and well as the member cohesion.
2. Approaches to conflict and common conflict resolution strategies
Answer-

7INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Competing
 Accommodating
 Collaborating
 Compromising
 Avoiding the conflict
3. Conflict management skills
Answer-
 Addressing the issue quickly before it reaches a crisis stage
 Asserting the feelings without blaming
 Compromising
 Creativity in the process of problem solving
 Commitment for resolving the issue
 Demonstrating understanding
 Forgiving
 Identification of the non-verbal clues
 Negotiating
 Monitoring the compliance with the agreements
 Active listening
 Showing respect
 Reflecting
 Willingness for modifying the behaviour
WEEK 8 AND 9
1. Verbal and non-verbal communication -Importance and functions

8INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Answer- Verbal communication makes use of auditory languages for exchanging the
information and details with the other people. The non-verbal communication is done in
between the people by means of visual cues.
2. The characteristics and power of language
Answer-
 It is arbitrary
 It is productive
 It is creative
 It is vocalic
 It is non-instinctive
 It is conventional
 It is systematic
 It is social
4. Gender and cultural differences in language
Answer- The structure of the language determines the process the language in which the
speaker view the languages of the world. The culture is reflected in the language cultural
needs. Also, Gender effects the style of listening, responding and the ability of listening.
5. Ways to enhance your skills at sending and interpreting verbal and non-verbal messages
Answer-
 Maintaining eye contact
 Giving space
 Tones of the voice

9INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Posture
 Body language
 Facial expressions
WEEK 10.
1. Ways in which cultures differ
 Language spoken
 Customs
 Traditions
 Beliefs
 Holidays that are been celebrated
 Dressing styles
 Marital rituals
 Diet
 Courting
2. The importance of effective intercultural communication
Answer-
 It provides the ability to deal with people belonging from diverse culture
 It promotes knowledge and innovation
3. Barriers to effective intercultural communication
Answer-
 Language differences

10INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Body language
 Value of time
 Negative prejudices and stereotypes
 Feelings and emotions
 Level of context
4. Strategies to improve intercultural communication competence.
Answer-
 Respecting each other
 Open-mindedness
 Being inquisitive
 Breaking assumptions
 Empathy
 Dropping behaviours that are insensitive
 Being wise and choosing words wisely
 Being a learner
 Listening and observing
 Getting curious
 Experiencing different cultures on a regular basis