What is the Difference Between Interpersonal and Communication Skills?

The main difference between interpersonal and communication skills lies in their focus and application. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

• Interpersonal Skills: These are the abilities we use every day to communicate and interact with others. They include confidence, listening, understanding, and responding to situations. Interpersonal skills focus on building and maintaining relationships with individuals, whether personally or professionally.
• Communication Skills: These are the abilities to communicate with others effectively, using listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Communication skills involve the transmission of information in a simple, easy, and polite manner that others can understand.

In summary, interpersonal skills focus on building and maintaining relationships, while communication skills focus on the effective transmission of information. Both skills are essential in personal and professional settings, and they often complement each other. For instance, a person with good interpersonal skills may also be a good communicator, and vice versa.

Comparative Table: Interpersonal vs Communication Skills

The main difference between interpersonal and communication skills lies in their focus and application. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

In summary, interpersonal skills emphasize building and maintaining relationships with others through effective communication and emotional understanding, while communication skills focus on the transmission of information using various methods, such as listening, speaking, and written communication.