Interpersonal skills are the ability to effectively communicate with an individual or a group. These verbal and non-verbal forms of communication are picked up in our infancy.
And as we grow older, they are given the terminology of politeness, empathy and sharing of views.
In today’s world, where a lot of communication is done virtually, the ability to communicate effectively becomes doubly important. In addition, there are cultural, linguistic, and even knowledge differences that exacerbate the situation.
Shower empathy with the tunes of interpersonal conduct in the workplace.
Hence, along with professional and technical skills, employers are looking for people with highly developed soft skills and interpersonal communication forms an important aspect of it. According to a Workforce Solutions Group study, 60 percent of employers say they cannot find candidates with the right interpersonal skills.
What are the interpersonal skills at workplace?
If a company has the right people with the required soft skills, the retention and productivity rates of a company go up by 12 percent, and there is a 250 percent return on investment.
So what denotes perfect interpersonal skills at the workplace?
It means one has good listening skills, manages work problems, is an effective communicator and can mingle well with the team.
Writing emails
One of the basic skills required. One needs to be clear, concise and effectively communicate the task at hand. It means there is no ambiguity in the message (unless you deliberately want it that way) and the receiver knows exactly what is expected of him or her.
Social Skills
You have the social skill of the most successful hostess. You should have the ability to draw out the most introverted person on the team, curb the enthusiasm of the most aggressive member, and give a chance for the team to develop as a cohesive whole.
Confidence of Convictions
You are not hesitant about putting across your point of view and are assertive about ideas but without being abrasive and with full empathy.
Leadership Qualities
You display leadership qualities and are able to push forward a plan that benefits the whole team.
Problem Solver
You are the problem solver rather than a problem creator. You can come up with resolutions with the least amount of conflicts.
Emotional Intelligence
Perhaps the most important overarching personal skill is developing emotional intelligence. It is how you are able to recognize and control your own emotions as well their effect on others. It is about self-awareness, self-regulation and motivations and to empathize with others.
Besides the verbal skills, non-verbal skills like body language and the pitch and tone of your voice also matter. For example, direct eye contact, non-defensive postures, keeping appropriate personal distance, or when to extend a physical gesture are all non-verbal signals that communicate your empathy and confidence.
There are a number of situations in which you need to use interpersonal skills, both personally and professionally. Consciously putting yourself in those positions, practicing your skills, and then reflecting on the outcomes will help you improve.
Interpersonal skills may be about how you relate to others, but still, it is more about you. Hence, one can work at developing the right skills by doing some homework, either through books, videos or even some course.