Explores listening, assertion, and conflict management skills needed for the development of effective interpersonal communications and more meaningful human relationships, with an examination of barriers to communication.

"A Touchstone book." Originally published: Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice-Hall, ©1979. (A Spectrum book). Originally published: Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice-Hall, c1979. (A Spectrum book)

Part I. Introduction :Skills for bridging the interpersonal gap -- Barriers to communication -- Part II. Listening skills : Listening is more than merely hearing -- Four skills of reflective listening -- Why reflective responses work -- Reading body language -- Improving your reflecting skills -- Part III. Assertion skills : Three approaches to relationships -- Developing three-part assertion messages -- Handling the push-push back phenomenon -- Increasing your assertive options -- Part IV. Conflict management skills : Conflict prevention and control -- Handling the emotional components of conflict -- Collaborative problem solving : seeking an elegant solution -- Three essentials for effective communication -- Afterward: Four steps to improved communication.