Boost Your Interpersonal Skills

"No man is an island." – John Donne (1572–1631)

You may not realize it, but interpersonal skills, or people skills, are something you already have. After all, you've been learning how to get along with others since the day you were born!

But positive daily interactions don't always "just happen," whether in business or in our personal lives. Getting the results that you need can be difficult when you don't "click" with people, or if you don't know how to act or what to say.

That's why strong interpersonal skills are as important in the workplace as "hard" technical skills or formal qualifications, regardless of the position you hold. They can help you to create good working relationships, manage conflict, motivate your team, increase productivity, solve problems, network effectively, and increase happiness and engagement at work.

Interpersonal skills fall under the soft skills umbrella. We use Interpersonal skills when interacting and communicating with others to help start, build, and sustain relationships.

Sometimes called people skills, these are innate and learned skills used in social situations pertinent to your career, education, and personal life. These skills include working creatively with others, communicating clearly, collaborating, adapting to change, flexibility, interacting effectively with diverse teams, guiding and leading others, and being responsible, according to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

For example, a marketing manager leads a brainstorming session and intentionally solicits participation from interns and newer team members so their ideas and opinions get a chance to shine. This demonstrates a few interpersonal skills in action: teamwork, leadership, motivation, and empathy. Such skills enable us to interact with others effectively, whether in the workplace, school, or on a daily basis.

Coaching skills are about helping others to grow and succeed. It involves offering guidance, sharing knowledge, and providing constructive feedback. When you coach a colleague, you're not telling them what to do, you're helping them discover their strengths and how to use them effectively.

These skills are the lifeblood of a healthy workplace. Effective communication is about conveying your ideas clearly, listening to others, and ensuring that everyone’s goals are aligned. It's also about being able to read non-verbal cues and understanding the best ways to communicate with different individuals.

Being aware of your own emotions and those of your colleagues can allow you to navigate workplace dynamics sensitively and professionally. High emotional intelligence can help you manage stress, address conflicts calmly, and create a positive work environment.

Start by becoming more aware of how you interact with others and how they respond to you.

• Seek feedback from trusted colleagues or friends about your communication style.
• Engage in active listening, where you focus entirely on the speaker, understand their message, and respond thoughtfully.
• Practice empathy by considering others' perspectives and feelings.
• Participate in group activities or workshops that focus on communication and teamwork.

Developing these skills can help you understand yourself better, leading to improved interpersonal interactions.

People want to be feel that they have been understood and respected despite the content of a conversation. Poor interpersonal skills can prevent this from happening and lower the effectiveness of communication.

It’s important to develop these skills as they are required in your professional and personal life on a daily basis and a significant proportion of your life consists of interaction.