Outline 

Interpersonal Communication

This type of communication occurs when two people engage in ongoing interaction with functional messages. You usually don’t engage with interaction with your co-workers at work, but you are expected to work well with everyone. Functional messages deal with managing day-to-day necessities and sharing information such as travel plans. Nurturing messages indicate support and that the relationship is valued. It is important to do both at the same rate because there may be times when you’re at work more than home, or vice versa. You need to use these both types of messages in the work place. This is because your employer will expect you to treat everyone with a positive attitude.

Stages of Relationships

There are four stages of relationships. They include: first meeting someone, then when the both of you become somewhat friendly, and then you two become involved as boyfriend and girlfriend or best friends. Then the last step is being stable- meaning your relationship is going great and is very steady.

1.First Meetings

Relationships always start at the first place-the first meeting. Here are some opening conversation guidelines:

·        Try to find some common ground for a conversation. Ask questions of the other person.

·        Don’t ask or answer questions about very personal topics.

·        Try to present a good image (put your best foot forward). If a topic comes up that you disagree strongly about, drop it and talk about something you can discuss more easily.

·        Don’t tell a person you meet that you don’t like him or her. Move on and meet other people.

·        Talk about general things.

When first meeting someone, the conversation should stay on a superficial level. The topics are between public information to not very personal information. No real sharing of personal information occurs.

·        If you use the OAR (Observe, Ask, and Reveal) process, you have a great chance to make a connection with that person. This stage you’re verbal and nonverbal have cultural and social rules.

·        First impressions mean a lot and are very important with first meetings. Make sure the first impression is a positive one.

·        First impressions are hard to change. If you appear in a negative attitude at work. Then it will be much harder to be considered a competent employee.

2. Friendly Relations

This stage involves mostly expressing opinions and feelings about things. You can share some things personal or superficial evaluations of each other’s behavior.

·        The friendly relations stage is pleasant but not very deep. They have a greater range of verbal/nonverbal messages then the first meetings stage. It also involves more nurturing messages.

·        You usually relate to people at work at this stage, if seen frequently. If you want to know that person more, you hold more conversations and more to the next stage.

3. Involved Relationships

This stage is much more personal. You share much more personal information and feelings. You can criticize one another or disagree with each other as well. You will also share verbal and nonverbal cues that are unique with the relationship.

·        At this stage feelings are easily shared. People would be able to tell that you both were very close. Relationships at this stage are characterized by nurturing messages.

·        Its hard to beat this level with someone has to give them negative feedback because of your job. Or your close friend could take advantage of you or expect a greater freedom at work.

 

·        Employers discourage co-workers to work together because it makes the other workers feel uncomfortable. Dating at work also becomes a problem. And if the romance or relationship ends, it’s hard to still work with them.

4. Stable Relationships

At this stage, each person knows the other person extremely well. You share deep feelings and very private information. It is unusual for people within the workplace to have relationships like this.

Changes in relationships

·        A relationship can move forward and backwards. This all depends on what happens. You may lose contact with a person, or move away, or find new interests in new friends. When this happens, the stages begin to go backwards, and so does your verbal/nonverbal cues. And the relationship begins to drift apart.

·        A key factor in the changes of a workplace is proximity. When your shifts or time schedules change, then the relationship tends to change.