Chapter 12 - Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace

Why is it important to learn professional interpersonal communication skills?

1. meets our basic needs: Many people gain a sense of belonging from their jobs and employee happiness is related to their social interactions at work.

2. influences your thinking about yourself: Our interactions with our coworkers help shape how we see ourselves (e.g., Reflected Appraisal Theory and Social Comparison Theory)

3. influences your thinking about others: Your past working norms have influenced your understanding of what is, and what is not, an appropriate way to interact with others.

4. is desired by employers: Job Outlook (2021) indicates that "communication" and "working with others" dominate the attributes employers report they are seeking in potential employees.

Why do we seek out relationships at work?

We seek relationships with others based on proximity, similarity and physical attractiveness therefore, relationships at work are very convenient.

Friendships

According to Morgan (2020) work is the number one place people make friends. King (2020) indicates that those who have close friends at work are more efficient and satisfied with their jobs.

Romantic Relationships

These can be controversial. This does not include unwanted intimate interactions or sexual harassment. Society for Human Resource (2020) indicates that almost 30% of people have indicated they have had a workplace romance. Some employers ban interoffice dating while others allow dating so long as there is not a power-dynamic at play (e.g., boss dating a subordinate).

Mentors

These relationships can help us grow, achieve upward mobility, and provide us with some emotional comfort in our careers. ______ are more experienced colleagues who provide guidance, knowledge, and support for the purpose of the advancement of a less experienced colleague.

Supervisors

These relationships can help us grow, achieve upward mobility, and provide us with some emotional comfort in our careers. _______ manage others' performance, including conducting performance evaluations, educating, sponsoring, coaching, counseling and directing. Not all serve as Mentors.

Ethics

Common behaviors that are found to be unethical at the workplace include coerciveness, destructiveness, deceptiveness, intrusiveness, secretiveness, and manipulation.

Showing Respect

Involves being able to accept the importance of someone's rights or customs and to do nothing that would harm them or cause offense.

Using Language Appropiately

• The language you use at work can be a reflection of who you are, how you feel about others, and make lasting impressions on those you communicate with. Language used at work can also reflect professionalism.

Personal Responsibility

means to (1) acknowledge your own choices and actions; (2) accept that others may not see things the way that you do; and (3) decide where to invest your time and energy.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Unwelcome advances, request for ______ favors, and other verbal or physical _________ of a ________ nature.

Biases

Racial and gender _______ are the most common forms.