Interpersonal communication competence has been conceptualized as a function of impressions of competence formed in the context of a dyadic relationship, and also in terms of individual behaviors. The Measure of Relational Competence, along with individual self-reports for empathy, role taking, and self-monitoring, were administered for 36 conversations among female college students. Results indicated that, in the context of initial acquaintance between women, individual tendencies explain some stable effects in impressions of competence. Unique adjustments to the relationship seem limited to projection from one's own competence to the other and to accurate self-perception of competence in each dyad. Little relational adjustment between individuals occurs in such dyads. In this context, actors' impressions of partners' competence are predicted by the partners' individual characteristics, but also are affected by the actors' self-perceptions as adjusted to each interaction. (Tables of supporting data are appended.) (SRT)