IV. Workplace Interpersonal Communication Issues

Interpersonal issues include recognizing message direction, managing humor, rumors, and gossip and reading interpersonal workplace culture.

           A.  Recognizing Message Direction

1.     Downward communication occurs when superiors send messages to subordinates. These messages maybe orders, policies, instructions, reprimands, or praise. It reflects the difference in power.

2.     Upward Communication refers to messages moving from subordinates to superiors. You may initiate a conversation with a boss to make a higher up request, a suggestion, or indicating progress. This is a risky type of communication.

3.     Horizontal Communications occurs between peers. It can be asking for assistance, complimenting on a problem, or trading schedules. It’s the most frequent type of interaction and the easiest to manage. It is also tricky when knowing the situation you are in. It can be difficult.

4.     A mentor is a person who serves as a role model or a career counselor to a younger member of an organization. Mentors help younger employees to be successful and discuss concerns and suggestions on sensitive issues. You interact with mentors using a horizontal level.

         B. Managing humor, rumors, and gossip

1.     Humor in the workplace creates a sense of ease and belonging. Laughter helps break up boredom and repetition. And funny stories can help create a sense of being an insider.

2.     Participation in humorous rituals gives everyone a sense of belonging. Humor is a part of a passage or sign of success or movement through an organization.

3.     If humor at another person’s expense or making fun of a group is not appropriate. Jokes or behavior that put people down are not appropriate as well.

4.     Current stories that have not been verified as true are called rumors.

5.     Gossip consists of rumors of a very personal nature. Most gossip and rumors are shared in the backspace with fellow employees.

6.     Rumors and gossip create a sense of social connection and acceptance in a group. They can be entertaining, but at the same time it can be destroying cruel jokes or negative gossip can devastate a person emotionally and cause pain. It can also destroy a person’s reputation.

C. Reading the Interpersonal Culture

1.     The interpersonal style can tell you a great deal about what is or is not acceptable. When entering a specific workplace, pay special attention to the interpersonal communication.

2.     Some organizations are more competitive, fast-talking, and risk-taking in its atmosphere. In this atmosphere, members look out for themselves and concentrate on their goals.

3.     Other organizations support a work-hard/play-hard culture. They push for their goals. These members are expected to hang out with each other after work. This is for people who want to be friendly with co-workers who enjoy fast-paced office life. These employees seem to know a lot about each other.

4.     Some organizations maintain a less personal culture. You complete tasks at work with others. You may or may not socialize outside work. But they support each other in the workplace. The workflow is steady. They are not competitive. And help one another.

5.     And the last type of organization maintains a distant or individual culture. Employees function individually. There is little personal interaction between workers. There is no nurturing communication or relational skills. There is basically functional communication, individual independence, and competition.