by Christal Collette

Created on: January 07, 2009

Imagine walking into a waiting room. You are dressed professionally and ready to present yourself to a potential future employer. Then imagine another man enters the waiting room dressed in a greasy jumpsuit. This other man is trying to obtain the same job as you. Now guess what happensthe man in the jumpsuit is hired for the position. The reason he was hired is that he could properly communicate with his future employer. Good interpersonal communication can help you in the workforce.

Definition of Interpersonal Communication

According to Tim Borchers a professor of communication at Moorhead State University there are two types of interpersonal communication. The first view is called the Contextual View. In this view the two people communicating are in close proximity to each other. They use many sensory channels and the feedback to their communication is immediate. The relationship between those communicating in the first view doesn't matter. The other definition is called the Developmental View. In this view interpersonal communication is defined as a type of communication that occurs between two people who have known each other for a long period of time.

In this article, I will be focusing on the first view. I will use this view because everyone communicates with one another regardless of whether or not they know each other. Even the conversation between a fast food cashier and a customer forges some type of interpersonal communication.

The Beginning of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication starts in infancy. Some might think that they do not really know how to communicate their ideals to their boss until they are older and understand the world. However, according to Patsy Pierce, Ph.D., former Associate Director of Education at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, infants communicate with their parents. They ask for things they need and express their emotions using body language or verbal sounds instead of words. Just as a boss will need to communicate with his employees and understand what they need. A mother will need to understand how her child is communicating. This shows that you start learning how to ask for a raise and forge relationships when you are still in diapers.

Early Communication Experiences in the Workforce

Eventually you will grow up and communication with strangers will become more important for your financial well-being. I began my first job when I was only fourteen years old. My first employer did not know how

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