Com200 Final Paper

Final Paper

COM200 – Interpersonal Communication

Professor

February 4, 2013

Dear Jack & Jane,

You have come to me for advice on successful relationship tips with what I have learned during my Interpersonal Communications class. During this class, I have learned a lot of helpful information, some of which would seem like common sense. Only through open communication and listening skills can we begin to understand our interpersonal relationships. Listening to your partner and communicating clearly with them, having positive body language and sharing information about yourself is essential in our growth to mature and well-rounded individuals. These skills are vital in our professional lives, as well as our private relationships, such as your engagement to one another.

When talking with your fiancé, do you truly listen to what they have to say? Do you not only hear what is being said, but understand the emotion and importance? By understanding and practicing skills for active and empathic listening skills, you will not only hear the spoken words but also see their body language and the meaning behind the words.

Listening generally occurs at one of four levels: 1. ignoring, 2. pretending, 3. selective listening, and 4. attentive listening. If your partner says to you, “I do not like how a project at work is going”, do you probe into the statement of why she does not like how it is going? Do you advise on the project, such as stick with it, it will be fine. Do you try to interpret the problem, such as being a perfectionist and satisfaction on a project is hard to achieve. While these are appropriate in some situations, they are not types empathetic listening. An empathetic response would be, “you seem to be upset” or “is there anything I can do to help you feel better?” (Johnson 1993) Empathetic listening is also being supportive, which is very important in a successful relationship.

While we feel that a solution or a...