Interpersonal skills

LOVE , COMPASSION, GRATITUDE, EMPATHY

Introduction
Interpersonal skills are behaviors we use to interact with others effectively on the job and in the
larger world.
Some people are born with good interpersonal skills but everyone can learn, develop and
improve them.
Expressing appreciation, resolving disputes, and listening well are all interpersonal skills worth
practicing.
Excellent interpersonal skills in the workplace can enhance camaraderie, improve working
results, and support career development.
A lack of solid interpersonal skills can put an employee at a disadvantage where group
involvement, desired assignments, positive reviews, and job advancement are concerned.
What are Interpersonal Skills?

Interpersonal skills are the skills required to effectively communicate, interact, and work with
individuals and groups.
Those with good interpersonal skills are strong verbal and non-verbal communicators and are
often considered to be “good with people”.
Whether they’re used in your career or personal life, these skills are important for success.
Interpersonal skills are the skills we use every day when we communicate and interact with
other people, both individually and in groups.
They include a wide range of skills, but particularly communication skills such as listening and
effective speaking.
They also include the ability to control and manage your emotions.
It is no exaggeration to say that interpersonal skills are the foundation for success in life.
People with strong interpersonal skills tend to be able to work well with other people, including
in teams or groups, formally and informally.
They communicate effectively with others, whether family, friends, colleagues, customers or
clients. They also have better relationships at home and at work
Understanding Interpersonal
Skills
Interpersonal skills are often referred to as people skills, social skills, or social intelligence.
They involve reading the signals that others send and interpreting them accurately in order to
form effective responses.
Individuals show their interpersonal skills all the time simply by interacting with others.
Everyone has a personal style and an interpersonal style.
Some people are more successful than others at using interpersonal skills for specific, desired
results.
Interpersonal skills may be based in part on personality and instinct.
However, good ones can also be introduced to people and improved upon.
Understanding Interpersonal
Skills
However, good ones can also be introduced to people and improved upon.
While interpersonal skills can be developed, they cannot be learned solely from a textbook.
For some people, they should be practiced, used daily, observed, and then tweaked.
That is to say, these skills may come naturally to certain individuals, but others have to work at
cultivating them.
This cultivation often happens by practicing Mindfulness and through continuous interaction
with other individuals.
Why Interpersonal Skills
Matter/Importance
Interpersonal skills matter because none of us lives in a bubble.
Most of what we do in life requires interaction with other people.
In order to be successful in your career or have meaningful friendships, it’s critical to be good at
getting along with others.
While interpersonal skills are often considered to be something that comes naturally, that
you’re either blessed with them or not, the truth is that they can be learned.
Good interpersonal skills ‘oil the wheels’ of these interactions, making them smoother and
pleasanter for all those involved.
They allow us to build better and longer-lasting relationships, both at home and at work.
Interpersonal skills at Work
1. Emotional intelligence:
Employees with strong emotional intelligence are able to relate to others and maintain a level
head in the face of emotionally-charged situations.
They are adept at managing social dynamics and ensuring that those around them feel heard,
seen, and understood.
Emotionally intelligent employees are particularly effective in customer-facing roles as well as
collaborative positions and make great leaders and managers.
This skill, however, is beneficial in any and every job and holds a timeless appeal for employers.
Interpersonal skills at Work
2. Communication:
Communication is an essential interpersonal skill to demonstrate to employers.
Any job that involves team-based collaboration or deals directly with customers
or clients requires effective communication skills.
Verbal communication
Non-Verbal communication
Active listening
Digital communication
Interpersonal skills at Work
Non-Verbal communication:
The Non-Verbal Communication is the process of conveying without the use of words
either written or spoken.
In other words, any communication made between two or more persons through the use
of
Facial expressions,
Hand movements,
Body language,
Postures, and
Gestures
Interpersonal skills at Work
Active listening:
Active listening is a crucial skill in any position that requires you to work with
other people.
Actively listening to others allows you to connect with them, demonstrates that
you understand what they’re communicating, and opens the door to effective
collaboration and problem-solving.
Strong listening skills are particularly beneficial in positions where
understanding and responding to the needs of customers and clients determines
your success, like those in customer service or sales.
Interpersonal skills at Work
Digital communication:
Today digital communication is becoming a primary mode of communication in
the workplace.
even between team members sharing an office.
Whether you’re writing emails or talking to coworkers on google meet, zoom
conference, Skype, you’ll need to demonstrate an ability to communicate
professionally over digital mediums.
Interpersonal skills at Work
3.Reliability:
Reliability encapsulates your work ethic and the ability to see things through to
the end.
Simply being on time for work every day puts you on the fast track for
promotion, and always fulfilling promises is a key way to earn social capital in
the workplace.
Although reliability is a beneficial interpersonal skill for any job, it has added
value for highly skilled jobs.
Arriving on time and completing high-quality work goes a long way in earning a
solid reputation and repeat customers.
Interpersonal skills at Work
4. Leadership:
Leadership is an interpersonal skill that sets candidates apart from their peers.
Employers are always looking for motivated and capable employees who can
inspire others and take charge when work needs to be finished.
Leadership involves delegating and strategizing
Getting the most out of every employee
Helping everyone feel like they’re making valuable contributions to the
organization.
leadership skills:
Communication
Adaptability
Organization
Time management
Delegation
Motivation
Problem solving
Conflict resolution
Patience
Interpersonal skills at Work
5. Positivity:
Candidates and employees who demonstrate positivity are much more likely to find
success in a position and be well-liked at the company.
Positivity is especially important for positions that involve customer service or
managing client relations.
positivity can be infectious and easily influence your ability to make a sale or close a
deal.
Employers value positivity because positive employees tend to focus on the good in a
situation, and are more likely to believe that good outcomes can be achieved.
Positive employees are also more motivated and pursue tasks with enthusiasm.
Interpersonal skills at Work
6. Negotiation:
Negotiation is not only the act of buying or selling goods, but any interaction
where you engage another person in a discussion in an attempt to come to a
shared agreement.
Negotiation skills are particularly important for those working in industries like
law, sales, business, or politics.
However, negotiation skills can come in handy in any position.
Negotiation Skills:
Emotional intelligence
Communication skills
Strategizing
Planning
Interpersonal skills at Work
7. Openness to feedback:
No company wants to hire a stubborn or closed-minded employee, so it’s
important to show that you’re receptive to feedback.
Being open to feedback is especially useful in entry-level positions
when you lack professional experience and are learning valuable industry-
specific skills on the job.
It’s not just important to be open to feedback, you also need to be skilled at
applying that feedback to yield desirable results
Some skills that help cultivate openness to feedback are:
Flexibility
Active listening
Humility
Open-mindedness
Adaptability
Interpersonal skills at Work
8. Empathy:
People at work gravitate towards those who are capable of showing empathy
and relating to their colleagues on a personal level.
You can display empathy at work in a variety of ways.
For example, you could lend an ear to a colleague experiencing problems in the
company or step in to support a project when unforeseen difficulties strike.
Empathy is especially effective if you work in education because students are
better able to grow, learn, and thrive in environments that are emotionally
supportive.
Some empathy skills:
 Perceptiveness

Emotional intelligence
Cultural sensitivity
Active listening
Compassion
Interpersonal skills at Work
9. Teamwork:
Modern workplaces often require that employees rely on each other in some
capacity and are willing to support others when called upon.
Effective teamwork involves knowing when leadership is required and when it’s
important to be supportive.
One should put extra focus on their capacity for teamwork if applying for a role
in an industry like software development, which requires a large number of
people to work together to complete a single project.
Use the word “we” instead of “I” when describing group accomplishments in
your cover letter to emphasize a team-minded attitude.
some teamwork skills:
Delegation
Negotiation
Collaboration
Cooperation
Creativity
Idea exchange
Listening
Interpersonal skills at Work
10. Conflict Resolution:
Employers want to hire employees that can manage their own relationships in
the workplace, rather than requiring the involvement of management or HR.
If you’re able to demonstrate good conflict resolution skills then it’s more likely
you’ll be considered for leadership or managerial roles.
To be good at conflict management, you must be a strong communicator.
It’s important to be able to listen to all parties in any given conflict and to
understand the basis for the disagreement.
Only after fully understanding this can steps be taken to reach an agreement.
skills that aid in conflict resolution:
Nonverbal communication
De-escalation
Mutual respect
Negotiation
Cultural sensitivity
Compromise
Stress management
Humour
 Interpersonal skills at Work
• Self-awareness
• Social awareness
• Perceptiveness
• Thoughtfulness
• Consideration for others
• Self-management
• Empathy
• Active listening
Interpersonal skills for
Career/profession