INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS

[DR.MARIAPPAN GOVINDARAJAN]

Interpersonal relations are social associations, connections or affiliation between two or more people who may interact overtly, covertly, face to face or may remain effectively unknown to each other such as those in a virtual community who maintain secrecy and don’t socialize outside of a chat room.

Interpersonal relations are based on needs.  The gravity of needs determines the degree of interpersonal relations. The degree of relations may be divided into three categories viz., powerful, mild and poor.

Objects

The objects of interpersonal relations are as follows:

• To understand the exact meaning and intent of others;
• To be understood by others;
• To gain acceptance for yourself or your ideas or both;
• To produce action or change.

Need for interpersonal relations

Interpersonal relations develop and maintain trust and positive feelings in the organizations. This influences employee’s productivity through effective co-ordination and team spirit.   Human interactions affect the workers and management morale and motivation. Workforce has diversities as cultural, economical, personal conflicts, emotional make up, barriers and multi religious background.   Hence there is a need to develop health inter personal relations for enhancing organization strength, efficiency and productivity by reducing dysfunctional conflicts.

In an organization interpersonal relations should be developed with promoters, seniors, boss, colleagues, peer group, subordinates and junior staff.   The relations are to be developed outside organization with customers, vendors, Government officials etc.,

Elements

The following are the elements of interpersonal relations:

• Creating cohesive project teams;
• Developing effective communication skills;
• Emphasizing the importance of listening;
• Delegating effectively;
• Achieving a balance among authority, responsibility and accountability;
• Negotiating to achieve a win-win outcome;
• Respecting each other succeed;
• Using power and influence effectively; and
• Managing corporate policies.

Factors affecting interpersonal relations

The following are the factors that will affect interpersonal relations:

• Selfishness;
• Lack of courtesy;
• Not meeting commitment;
• Inconsiderable behavior;
• Rude behavior;
• Lack of integrity and honesty;
• Self centredness;
• Arrogance;
• Negative attitude;
• Closed mind;
• Lack of listening;
• Suspicious nature;
• Lack of respect for values;
• Lack of compassion;
• Impatience;
• Anger;
• Touch nature;
• Past bad experience;
• Uncaring attitude.

Factors influencing interpersonal relations

The following are the factors that will influence interpersonal relations:

• Personality of the leaders;
• Culture of the organization;
• Greetings and salutations;
• Body language;
• Social back ground;
• Verbal and non verbal communication;
• Personal factors;

Skills required for building interpersonal relations

The following are the skills to build interpersonal relations are as detailed below:

• Know self and others personality;
• Assertive communication;
• Conflict management;
• Build trust.

Every one who wants to make healthy interpersonal relations should know the art of knowing his strength and weakness.  He should be able to assess the main characteristics of the other party.  Communication is a vital part for building interpersonal personality.   Assertive communication is a communication skill.  It is to express the feelings and ideas impressively and effectively.

Building trust is the inner sense of acceptance of others with whom one share his secrets knowing they are safe.   It is the relationship built on understanding of mutual respect and caring.   It is an act of placing confidence in others.   It creates a bond between two persons by sharing thoughts and inner feelings with others.

The following are the stages of building interpersonal relations:

• Understanding the individual;
• Attending to the little things;
• Keeping commitments;
• Clarifying expectations;
• Showing personal integrity;
• Apologizing sincerely when making a mistake.

Improving interpersonal relations

• Become genuinely interested in other people;
• Call people by name;
• Talk in terms of other people’s interest;
• Smile;
• Listen

The interpersonal relations may be healthy or may not be.   However it should be there.  The healthy interpersonal relations provide synergy, team spirit, optimum utilization of resources, flowering environment.  It also encourages the workers, who will physically and mentally will be fit.