What Are Interpersonal Communication Skills? Definition, Examples, and How to Improve Them

1. What Is Interpersonal Communication?
2. What Are Interpersonal Communication Skills?
3. Key Interpersonal Communication Skills You Should Know
4. Why Are Interpersonal Communication Skills Important at Work?
5. What Are Interpersonal Skills? (Meaning and Examples)
6. How to Improve Your Interpersonal Communication Skills?
7. FAQs

Interpersonal communication skills decide how well you talk to people and how well they listen to you. These skills play a big role in your success at work and beyond.

A report by Grammarly Business found that employees spend over 70 percent of their week just communicating. LinkedIn’s 2024 report also ranked communication as the most in-demand soft skill today.

That shows how important interpersonal communication is in everyday life and in your career. The good part is you can learn and improve these skills. In this blog, we will explain what interpersonal communication skills are and how you can improve them.

What Is Interpersonal Communication?

Let’s define interpersonal communication before we move on to the skills.

Interpersonal communication is the direct exchange of information between two or more people. It can be verbal – either spoken or written. You can also express it through nonverbal cues like gestures and body language.

This type of communication happens in different ways –

• Face to face
• Over the phone
• Through digital platforms

The main purpose of interpersonal communication is to build understanding and connection. It plays a key role in personal conversations. It also supports teamwork, conflict resolution, and everyday social interaction.

Here are some interpersonal communication examples –

• Having a one-on-one chat with your manager
• Comforting a friend with your tone and body language
• Sending a clear email to a colleague
• Giving feedback during a team meeting

What Are Interpersonal Communication Skills?

Interpersonal communication skills are the abilities that help you interact well with others. They affect how you share your thoughts and how you understand what others are saying. Examples of interpersonal communication skills include –

• Speaking with clarity
• Understanding body language
• Listening with attention
• Showing empathy

Strong interpersonal communication skills help you avoid tension, solve problems faster, and build better relationships wherever you go.

Key Interpersonal Communication Skills You Should Know

Here are some important interpersonal communication skills that can help you succeed in both personal and professional life.

Examples of Interpersonal Communication Skills

These examples show how interpersonal communication plays out in real situations. Each one highlights a skill you likely use in daily life without even realizing it.

Why Are Interpersonal Communication Skills Important at Work?

Matt Rosenberg, Chief Revenue Officer at Grammarly, shared that poor communication cost U.S. businesses up to $1.2 trillion last year – about $12,500 per employee.

That number says a lot.

Strong interpersonal communication skills can reduce these losses by improving team efficiency, clarity, and collaboration. Here are a few key reasons why they matter in the workplace –

• Build stronger team relationships
• Avoid confusion during tasks
• Make meetings more effective
• Resolve conflicts faster
• Improve leadership and trust
• Help with client communication
• Boost chances of promotion
• Create a positive work environment

What Are Interpersonal Skills? (Meaning and Examples)

Many people confuse interpersonal skills with interpersonal communication skills. While they are closely related, they are not the same. Interpersonal skills meaning refers to a wider set of abilities that help you work well with others. Communication is just one part of it.

Let’s define interpersonal skills to give you more clarity.

Interpersonal skills are the traits and behaviors that allow you to interact effectively with other people. These skills help you build trust, solve problems, and maintain positive relationships in both personal and professional life.

They include more than just how you speak or listen. They also involve other qualities like –

• How you collaborate
• How you handle conflict
• How you support teammates
• How well you understand other people’s feelings

Interpersonal Skills Examples:

A few examples of interpersonal skills are –

Difference Between Interpersonal Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal communication is a part of interpersonal skills – it focuses only on how we share and receive messages. Interpersonal skills, on the other hand, include communication along with other important traits like empathy, teamwork, and leadership that help us work well with others.

Interpersonal Communication vs Interpersonal Skills:

How to Improve Your Interpersonal Communication Skills?

Good communication is not about having a big vocabulary or talking more. It is about making people feel heard and understood. Here are 8 ways to build stronger interpersonal communication skills –

1. Check your current skill set and write it down

Start by figuring out where you are strong and where you are not. Think about past interactions – with friends, family, or coworkers. Were you really listening? Did your words land well? Write down the skills you feel confident in and the ones that need work. Seeing it on paper helps you focus.

2. Focus on one skill at a time

Don’t try to fix everything overnight. Choose one skill – like active listening or asking better questions – and practice just that for a week. Improvement comes from repetition, not overload.

3. Practice short conversations in everyday life

Say good morning to your neighbor. Ask the cashier how their day is going. These low-pressure moments help you build confidence and get more comfortable expressing yourself.

4. Slow down your response time

Most people think of what to say while the other person is still talking. Instead, pause. A 1 to 2 second gap shows you are thoughtful and gives space for real connection. It also reduces the chance of misunderstanding.

5. Learn to read body language

Words are only part of communication. Watch facial expressions, posture, and eye contact. If someone folds their arms or avoids eye contact, they may be uncomfortable. Adjust your tone or language based on their signals.

6. Ask open-ended questions

Instead of “Did you get it?”, try “What part feels unclear?” It invites real conversation and shows that you care about their perspective, not just your own clarity.

7. Reflect emotion

If someone is excited, celebrate with them. If they are frustrated, slow down and acknowledge it. Emotional mirroring builds trust faster than perfect grammar ever will.

8. Observe good communicators

Notice how great speakers, managers, or even friendly strangers talk. How do they make people feel heard? What words or gestures do they use? You don’t have to copy them, but you can borrow techniques that feel natural to you.

FAQs

What is communication about communication?

Communication about communication means talking or thinking about how we communicate. For example – discussing how clearly a message was delivered or how someone’s tone affected the conversation. It helps improve the way we express ourselves and understand others.

What is interpersonal meaning?

Interpersonal meaning refers to anything that happens between two or more people. It is about how we relate, interact, and build relationships.

What are intrapersonal communication skills?

Intrapersonal communication is your inner dialogue – how you talk to yourself. It includes self-awareness, reflection, and emotional regulation. Strong intrapersonal skills help you stay calm, make better decisions.

What are communication and interpersonal skills?

Communication and interpersonal skills are the abilities that help you talk, listen, and connect well with others. Communication skills focus on speaking and listening clearly. Interpersonal skills include communication, relationship-building, teamwork, and emotional awareness.

What are some examples of interpersonal skills including communication skills?

Here are a few examples –

• Active listening
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Clear speaking
• Empathy
• Conflict resolution
• Nonverbal communication (eye contact, tone)
• Team collaboration

These skills help you work better with others in any setting.

What are the 4 types of interpersonal communication skills?

The four main types are –

• Verbal communication – using words to speak
• Nonverbal communication – body language, tone, gestures
• Listening – truly understanding what someone says
• Written communication – clear and respectful messaging via emails, texts, or notes

Which jobs require interpersonal communication skills?

Almost every job needs strong interpersonal communication. Some examples include –

• Customer service
• Sales
• Teaching
• Healthcare (nurses, doctors, therapists)
• Managers and team leaders
• Human resources
• Marketing and PR roles

How to develop interpersonal communication skills?

Start by identifying your strengths and weak areas. Practice active listening, speak clearly, and pay attention to body language. Ask open-ended questions and seek honest feedback. Try to connect with others in small, everyday conversations to build comfort and confidence.

How to show interpersonal skills in your resume and interview?

In your resume, highlight skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership using real outcomes. For example – “Collaborated with a cross-functional team to launch a new campaign.”

In interviews, share specific situations where you resolved a conflict, supported a team member, or led a project. Use clear, honest examples that show how you work with others.