Social skills are important for all of us in life in general. However, their importance at the workplace are crucial to building positive relationships at work in order to improve the overall work culture and success of a business. A list of interpersonal skills that employers will look for are:
1. Active listening
2. Dependability
3. Empathy
4. Good communication
5. Leadership
6. Conflict management
7. Negotiation
8. Positivity
9. Collaboration
10. Body language
11. Patience & flexibility
These are some great examples of interpersonal skill sets. Let’s say you have trouble with one or a few of these. What are some ways that you can improve on your interpersonal skills? Here are some quick tips for you.
1. Attend workshops or classes
2. Be thoughtful in your business interactions
3. Practice your compassion skills
4. Don’t be a complainer
5. Show interest in other employees at work
6. Ask for constructive criticism and be intentional with the feedback
7. Mentor someone you trust
Remember that interpersonal skills are face to face interactions that can be verbal and nonverbal. To be a meaningful part of the team your interpersonal skills don’t have to always be perfect but they should contribute to the efficiency and teamwork of the business most of the time. You also don’t have to be a “people person” either in order to have good interpersonal skills and they will be an asset to having a successful career.
