While being proficient in the hard skills of your job are key to having a successful career, excelling in the soft skills can also help you with your career.
We all deal with various groups of people every day in the workplace. Whether it’s colleagues, superiors, employees, customers, vendors, or any other individual, it’s paramount that you possess the interpersonal skills needed when dealing with other people.
In this article, we’ll identify the specific aspects of interpersonal skills and how you can learn them to help you succeed.
What Are Interpersonal Skills (People Skills)?
Interpersonal skills, also known as “people skills,” are the abilities a person uses to interact with others. These skills can include written and verbal communication and non-verbal cues such as body language and facial expressions.
The ability to effectively manage relationships is another important aspect of interpersonal skills. This management includes personal relationships, such as friendships and family dynamics, and professional relationships, such as those with co-workers, superiors, and clients. It also encompasses active listening, which is understanding and interpreting what others are saying.
People with strong interpersonal skills are typically able to navigate these relationships smoothly and efficiently.
List of Essential Interpersonal Skills
Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
Communicating clearly and effectively with others is an essential component of interpersonal skills. It involves verbal and non-verbal communication, such as body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions.
Conflict Management
In both personal and professional relationships, it is important to manage these relationships effectively. This ability includes being able to resolve conflicts, communicate needs and expectations clearly, and establish mutual trust and respect.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence, or the ability to understand and effectively manage your emotions and those of others, is also a critical component of interpersonal skills. It involves being able to recognize and empathize with the feelings of others, as well as using this awareness to interact more effectively with them.
Leadership
Effective leaders have strong interpersonal skills and can communicate clearly, listen actively, and lead others through challenges. They are also skilled at managing relationships with team members and superiors.
Building and Development
To advance in your career or build meaningful personal relationships, it is important to be able to develop and maintain strong interpersonal connections. This connection means networking, engaging with others on social media, and seeking mentorship from those with relevant experience.
Negotiation Skills
In personal and professional relationships, negotiating effectively is another important component of interpersonal skills. This skill includes negotiating successfully with others to reach agreements that satisfy the needs of all parties involved.
Active Listening
Strong listening skills are critical for building meaningful relationships with others. It involves understanding, interpreting, questioning, and reflecting on what you hear to show you are actively engaged.
Personal Development
To continue developing and improving as an individual, it is important to continuously work on your interpersonal skills. This development can include setting goals for yourself, seeking out feedback from others, and working on communication and conflict management skills.
Positive Attitude and Behaviour
Having a positive attitude and behaving in a considerate, respectful way are other important aspects of interpersonal skills. This attitude means maintaining an open mind, actively listening to others, and being able to put yourself in their shoes to better understand their perspective.
How to Improve Interpersonal Skills
Oral Communication Skills Training
Training your employees in oral communication skills can help them to interact better with others and build more meaningful relationships. To accomplish this, you can teach them how to listen actively, use non-verbal cues effectively, and to be able to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly.
Written Communication Skills
Written communication skills are just as important as oral communication skills. These skills include teaching them how to write effective emails, use proper grammar and punctuation, and format documents appropriately for different purposes and audiences.
Management Skills Training
In addition to developing interpersonal skills, management skills training is a must for any organization.
Leadership Skills Training
Leadership skills training is another critical component of interpersonal skills development. These skills can involve teaching your staff how to be effective leaders by setting clear goals, motivating and inspiring others, and handling conflict and adversity with grace.
Team Management Skills Training
Team management skills are also essential for organizations to be successful. Make sure to teach your employees how to build strong teams and work collaboratively, manage team dynamics, motivate team members, and troubleshoot problems effectively.
Personal Development Skills Training
To continue improving as individuals, it is also important to focus on your personal development. This development may involve setting goals for yourself, seeking feedback from others, participating in professional networking events and conferences, and working on communication and time management skills.
Contact TSSG for Employee Interpersonal Skills Workshops
At The Soft Skills Group (TSSG), we offer a variety of training programs that can help your employees develop their interpersonal skills and become better leaders with workshops specifically designed for all levels to learn soft skills like interpersonal skills. For more information, connect with one of our experts at TSSG.
