Interpersonal Competence in the Management of People

Interpersonal skills are those essential skills applied in dealing with and relating to other people largely on a one-to-one basis. The interpersonal communication behavior of many people suggests they assume an ability to communicate effectively that they do not possess, taking these skills for granted. One must work conscientiously to develop interpersonal competence by doing the rights things at all times and doing them repeatedly until they become ingrained. As with any human skills, interpersonal skills can be improved through conscious effort. Successful interpersonal communication involves shaping the behavior of others often while countering their shaping behavior. To have a chance of being successful, every interpersonal contact must have an objective, and every effort must be made to avoid creating win-lose transactions whenever possible.