Recently, I conducted a bit of research within our company to gather insights on what our team members consider essential for effective collaboration. The responses were interesting, with a few key themes standing out: "Leave your ego at the door," "Mutual respect and empathy," "Remember that the person across from you has their own problems and emotions," and "Have patience, both in listening and in repeating."
These ideas highlight the role of interpersonal skills—the ability to communicate and interact effectively with those around you. These skills encompass both your communication techniques and your attitude.
In this blog post, find out what these skills have in common with cognitive therapy and why self-awareness is the first step towards fostering more effective communication and stronger professional relationships within your team.
Teams that communicate effectively increase productivity by as much as 25%
According to research, high-performing teams that communicate increase productivity by as much as 25%, and companies with effective communication strategies in place are 3.5 times more likely to outperform competitors.
The way you apply your communication skills directly impacts your interactions and relationships within a team. But what exactly are these interpersonal communication skills? They include many things, from active listening, verbal communication, non-verbal communication, empathy, teamwork and collaboration, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, adaptability, clarity, and conciseness, feedback, and assertiveness.
Each of these skills could easily be explored in depth on its own, but in this blog, we’ll focus on why they are particularly important for leaders. Understanding and mastering these skills not only enhances team dynamics but also helps prevent common pitfalls that can lead to miscommunication, conflict, and, ultimately, a breakdown in professional relationships.
1. Allowing your ego to get the best – Be prepared for people to leave
In any workplace, ego can be a significant barrier to effective interpersonal communication. When leaders let their ego take control, they often disregard the input of others, leading to an environment where team members feel undervalued and unheard.
A leader's ego might manifest as a reluctance to admit mistakes or a refusal to listen to team members’ ideas and concerns. This can lead to a culture of fear, where team members are hesitant to express their opinions or offer feedback. Over time, this erodes strong interpersonal communication skills within the team as people become disengaged and disconnected.
When team members feel that their contributions are not respected, they are more likely to leave, seeking environments where their voices are heard and more valued. Losing talented individuals due to poor leadership is a costly mistake, both in terms of productivity and morale.
We all have egos, but we need to learn how to control them, especially if we want to ensure business success at work.
2. Failing to actively listen – Expect miscommunications and frustration
I once discussed active listening with a former colleague, and he remarked, "Isn't all listening active? It's the only kind that exists." Unfortunately, that's far from the truth.
Active listening is one of the most critical components of effective interpersonal communication. It involves fully concentrating on what the other person is saying rather than just passively hearing their words. Active listening is not just about receiving information; it’s about understanding, processing, and responding thoughtfully. Active listening means truly focusing on understanding the person speaking rather than merely waiting for your turn to respond.
Failing to practice active listening can lead to significant miscommunications. For instance, if a leader listens with preconceived notions about the situation or the employee, they might already have a narrative in mind and end up interpreting the conversation through that biased lens, potentially distorting the actual details about project requirements or team challenges.
Moreover, when leaders fail to listen actively, they miss out on building productive relationships with their team. Good interpersonal skills require more than just talking; they demand listening and responding in ways that validate others' experiences and contributions. Interpersonal communication refers to this reciprocal exchange where both parties feel heard and understood.
Without good listening skills, communication in the workplace becomes a one-way street, leading to misunderstandings and decreased team cohesion. To avoid these pitfalls, leaders must cultivate active listening as part of their interpersonal communication skills, ensuring that their team feels respected and valued.
3. Ignoring non-verbal cues – Missed opportunities to connect
Non-verbal communication often conveys more than words alone. Body language, facial expressions, and eye contact are all vital components of non-verbal communication that provide context and emotional depth to our verbal exchanges.
For example, a team member’s facial expressions might indicate confusion or frustration, even if they are verbally agreeing with what is being said. A leader who overlooks these signs may fail to address underlying issues, leading to resentment and a breakdown in interpersonal relationships.
Strong interpersonal skills involve not just speaking clearly but also being attuned to the non-verbal communication of others. This awareness helps leaders to communicate effectively, building trust within the team. By paying attention to non-verbal cues, leaders can better understand their team’s emotions and needs, fostering a more supportive and cohesive work environment.
Reading body language is not easy, but as with everything, you can work on improving yourself.
4. Overlooking empathy – Creating a toxic work environment
A lot of employees from Devōt talked about the importance of empathy in team collaboration.
Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which is essential for fostering strong interpersonal relationships in any work environment.
A leader who lacks empathy might dismiss their team members' personal and professional challenges, focusing solely on technical skills and project outcomes. This approach can make team members feel undervalued and unsupported, leading to burnout, low morale, and high turnover rates.
In contrast, leaders who practice empathy create a more inclusive and supportive environment. They recognize that each team member brings their own unique experiences and challenges to the table. By actively listening and responding with understanding, empathetic leaders can address issues before they escalate, contributing to a healthier and more collaborative work environment. I mean, just think how many conflicts could be resolved in advance if a leader knew how to react properly before things escalate.
Neglecting empathy harms individual team members and undermines the entire team's ability to collaborate effectively. When team members feel that their emotions and concerns are not taken seriously, they are less likely to engage fully in their work, leading to decreased productivity and innovation.
According to the research, 81% of employees agreed that businesses with toxic workplace cultures have leaders or managers who lack empathy. This thing is enough to emphasize that leaders must develop empathy as a key part of their interpersonal communication skills.
To avoid creating a toxic work environment, leaders must develop empathy as a key part of their interpersonal communication skills.
5. Neglecting verbal communication – Causing confusion and inefficiency
Clear and concise verbal communication ensures that instructions are understood, expectations are set, and feedback is delivered effectively. However, when leaders neglect this skill, it can lead to confusion, inefficiency, and frustration within the team.
For example, if a leader fails to convey the specifics of a task or the priority of different project components, team members might end up working on the wrong tasks or duplicating efforts.
Furthermore, poor verbal communication can lead to a lack of alignment between team members, where individuals may have different understandings of the project’s goals or requirements. This misalignment can cause projects to go off-track, leaving individuals working in isolation rather than toward a common goal, ultimately making them feel disconnected from the team despite being part of it.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy emphasizes the importance of clear and direct communication, particularly when it comes to expressing thoughts. It teaches people to challenge distortion, and one common distortion is "mind reading," where a person assumes they know what someone else is thinking without actually saying it. So, in your personal and professional life, leave no room for mind reading and work on your interpersonal communication skills.
6. Failing to resolve conflicts – Watch your team fall apart
Conflict is inevitable in any team. However, the way conflicts are handled can make or break a team. Leaders who fail to develop conflict resolution skills risk watching their team dynamics deteriorate, leading to a fractured and dysfunctional work environment.
Interpersonal communication is critical in conflict resolution. It involves not only addressing the issue at hand but also managing the emotions and perspectives of those involved. Leaders who shy away from conflicts or handle them poorly often create an environment where unresolved tensions fester. This can lead to ongoing resentment, decreased collaboration, and, ultimately, a breakdown in teamwork skills.
Effective conflict resolution requires a leader to take accountability, both for their role in the conflict and for guiding the team toward a resolution. This means listening actively to all parties involved, acknowledging their concerns, and working together to find a solution that respects everyone’s viewpoints. When leaders demonstrate accountability, they set an example for their team.
7. Being unclear or long-winded – Prepare for misinformation
Leaders who are unclear in their instructions or who overcomplicate their messages risk causing their team to misinterpret tasks, leading to errors and wasted time. For instance, a leader who doesn’t communicate effectively might leave out critical details during a project briefing, causing team members to proceed based on incomplete or incorrect information.
Moreover, poor interpersonal communication skills, such as being unclear or verbose, can create a frustrating work environment where team members feel unsure of what is expected of them. This lack of clarity can lead to delays, as team members may need to seek repeated clarification or may inadvertently work on the wrong priorities. Clear and concise language is essential for productivity and an efficient work environment.
8. Not providing feedback – Risk stagnation and dissatisfaction
Providing feedback is crucial for fostering personal and professional growth within a team.
Allow for ambiguity, and you will create uncertainty in your team
When feedback is unclear or nonexistent, ambiguity takes hold within the team. Ambiguity in communication can create significant uncertainty about roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Team members might be left guessing whether they are meeting standards or where they should focus their efforts.
Ambiguity in feedback—or the lack thereof—can lead to poor interpersonal skills within the team, as individuals may feel insecure about their contributions and hesitant to ask for guidance.
To prevent this, leaders must ensure that their feedback is specific and actionable. Effective communication skills are essential here, as they enable leaders to convey messages in a way that is both informative and encouraging.
Fail to recognize efforts and watch motivation plummet
Failing to recognize efforts can have a profound impact on a team’s motivation and overall morale. When team members feel that their hard work and achievements go unnoticed, they are likely to experience a decline in motivation, which can lead to disengagement and a decrease in productivity.
Without recognition, even the most talented team members may begin to question their role within the organization, leading to increased turnover and a loss of strong interpersonal relationships within the team.
57% of employees leave because of their managers. Some say that people quit bosses, not companies; I would say people quit because of other people. It can be on whatever job level. Providing constructive feedback and recognizing efforts are two sides of the same coin; both are essential for maintaining a motivated, engaged, and high-performing team.
Overlook personal growth and expect your best people to leave
When leaders overlook the importance of supporting their team members' development, they risk losing their most talented individuals to other opportunities that offer more growth and advancement.
Overlooking personal growth often occurs when leaders focus solely on immediate project needs without considering the long-term career aspirations of their team members.
Investing in the personal and professional growth of team members is not just about offering training sessions or career development programs, though these are important. It also involves providing constructive feedback, setting clear career paths, and recognizing the unique strengths and aspirations of each individual.
9. Micromanaging – Sowing seeds of discontent
Micromanagement is a common pitfall for leaders who may be well-intentioned but ultimately hinder their team's performance and morale. When leaders micromanage, they undermine their team members' autonomy and creativity, leading to a lack of trust and increased frustration.
Micromanaging often stems from a leader’s desire to maintain control or ensure that tasks are completed to their exact standards. However, this approach signals to team members that their skills and judgment are not trusted, which can erode strong interpersonal relationships within the team. Over time, this lack of trust can lead to disengagement, as team members feel that their contributions are not valued and that they are simply cogs in a machine.
The impact of micromanagement extends beyond individual dissatisfaction; it can also disrupt the entire team dynamic. When a leader is constantly hovering over the details, team members are less likely to take initiative or offer creative solutions, fearing that their ideas will be dismissed or overly scrutinized.
Needed: A large dose of self-awareness regarding your interpersonal skills
So, everything listed here sounds great, but how can you even be aware that you might be doing these things? To apply interpersonal communication skills in a leadership role, you need first to possess a significant level of self-awareness.
It’s not enough to simply understand the importance of good communication skills; you must first recognize that you may have some of these challenges yourself. This requires honest reflection on your current practices and how they impact your professional relationships and team dynamics.
The journey begins with awareness—being mindful of your own behaviors and how they influence others. From there, it requires genuine motivation to change, a commitment to developing better habits, and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who aren't afraid to tell you the truth can make this process more manageable, as they can provide constructive feedback and encouragement along the way.
