Interpersonal Communication
Social and Professional
Interpersonal Situations
•Making introductions
• Making apologies
• Giving directions
• Making requests
• Asking and answering questions
• Speaking on the phone
• Offering and receiving criticism
• Dealing with differences
Making introductions
Things to Include:
•Names (Say loudly and clearly)
•Titles (Professor of…)
•Relevance (Why the person is present)
Example:
“Kelly, I’d like to introduce Danita Powell.
Danita is the assistant director of human
resources. We’ve invited her to help us
make some personnel planning decisions.
Danita, this is Kelly Francis. Kelly is our
service director. She will come into our
meeting later this morning with a list of her
needs for new employees.”
If you are being introduced…
Follow these suggestions:
•Listen carefully (for person’s name, title and reason for being there)
•Make a “name note” (tie the person’s name with something familiar)
•Make eye contact (it’s courteous and begins a good relationship)
•Shake hands (Make sure it is firm, but friendly)
•Smile (it is evidence that you are sincere)
•Speak (“Hello, I’m pleased to meet you.”)
Making apologies
Some suggestions to remember
•Name it and claim it (be specific and say what you did that was wrong)
•Offer an explanation (state why the mistake was made)
•Offer to make it right (if it is correctable, correct the mistake)
•Keep it brief (respect the other person’s time and get to the point)
•Be sincere! (mean it!)
Example:
Bob – “Maya, I’d like to talk about what happened
last week before our breakfast. I’m very sorry that
I referred to you and Diane as “the office chicks.” It
was a thoughtless comment. Please accept my
apology. I promise to be more sensitive in the
future.”
Maya – “I appreciate that you took the time to talk
to me about that, and I appreciate your apology.”
Giving directions
Tips to Remember:
•Begin by communicating the goal (To get to Randall Consulting…)
•Know where you are starting (Start at Main Street and…)
•Break the directions down into steps (First, second, third…)
•Check for understanding (be aware of nonverbal signs of confusion)
•Don’t talk down (don’t treat anyone as inferior)
•Be patient ()
Making requests
Understand Your Purpose & Analyze the Situation and Audience:
•Determine who to ask (who has the power, time, info, etc.)
•Determine an appropriate level of assertiveness
(as a question? or a command!) – Be TACTFUL!
•Determine an appropriate level of specificity
(Should you be very general or specific in your
request?)
•Determine the best situation (when is the best
time, place, etc. to ask?)
Determine a deadline (create a fair timeline to
have the request met.)
Asking questions
This too, requires skill. Remember these:
•Assertiveness (don’t be afraid to ask questions, be confident)
•Tact (think carefully about who you are asking and where – don’t embarrass the person)
•Courtesy (wait for appropriate timing – don’t “butt” into a conversation)
•Specificity (your question should contain enough info that the person understands what
you are asking.)
•Relevance (make sure the question is relevant to the person and situation)
•Sincerity (the person you are asking should feel their answer is important to you)
Example:
“Donna, I’m working on the schedule for next week’s meeting. Would you please tell me how long
Mr. Talcott takes to make his section of the new employee presentation?”
courtesy – “please”
specificity – Donna knows precisely WHAT the questioner needs to know.
relevance – Donna know precisely WHY the questioner needs to know.
Answering questions
Knowing how to ask a good question will provide you with a good answer:
•Tact (show respect for the person asking the question)
•Courtesy (you may want to thank the person for asking the question)
•Specificity (be specific, give a useful answer)
•Relevance (be sure your answer relates to the question asked)
Telephone Etiquette
• Answering: answer promptly; before
picking up the receiver, stop other
conversation or activity that can be
heard by the other party; speak
clearly and distinctly in a pleasant
tone; if taking a message- get name &
number, write down day & time, give
to person promptly
• Calling: Think about time of day; give
your name; enunciate words; use
pleasant voice
Offering & Receiving Criticism
• Criticism vs. constructive
criticism
• Giving criticism: attack
issue, not person; be tactful
• Receiving criticism: watch
defensiveness; consider it;
be tactful in response; take
it in stride!
Dealing with Differences
-Gender
-Ethnicity
-Age
•Don’t avoid
communication simply
because of
differences
•Treat people as
PEOPLE first!