Interpersonal Skills
Do you require interpersonal skills to function well in your job role? This article provides a guide on how you can develop the skills and include them on your resume.
What are Interpersonal Skills?
Interpersonal skills are the abilities used to interact, communicate and collaborate with others. They are essential skills for any role in an organization, as they help build relationships, understand others, and show respect towards others. Interpersonal skills are important for any employee as they foster collaboration and promote effective communication.
Interpersonal skills involve both verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Effective use of these skills can help improve communication within the organization, build trust, and create a positive work environment.
Interpersonal skills are used in almost every aspect of an organization. They can help create a positive work culture, help colleagues work together more effectively, and help build relationships with customers or clients. Additionally, they can help managers motivate and lead their teams, while also helping employees work together more efficiently.
Interpersonal skills are also important for networking, as they can help individuals build relationships, make connections, and gain insight into the industry. Interpersonal skills can also help with career development, as they help an individual develop the necessary skills to progress in their chosen field.
In conclusion, interpersonal skills are essential for any organization and any role. They help create a positive work environment, build relationships, and foster collaboration. They are also important for networking and career development.
Importance of Interpersonal Skills
- They contribute to effective communication
Strong interpersonal skills are essential to being an effective communicator in any organization. Building relationships with colleagues promotes the sharing of knowledge and information and the development of new skills and abilities. Strong communication skills also reduce potential misunderstandings and conflicts resulting from poor communication.
In addition, it fosters mutual respect and appreciation of each other’s perspectives and contributions. Establishing effective communication leads to more efficient work, better management of activities, and faster completion of tasks.
- They promote feedback
Business owners and managers want a dynamic workplace that can respond quickly to internal and external circumstances.
The exchange of information between those who assign tasks and those who perform them is vital, and supervisor feedback can show whether an employee’s performance is satisfactory or whether improvements are needed. If a supervisor does not communicate with his or her subordinates and then criticizes them, this is counterproductive and can lead to an unhealthy relationship between management and employees.
- They empower you
The workplace must be able to adapt quickly to internal and external factors. Managers and employees must be engaged in constant communication to ensure overall satisfaction and growth for both parties. Workers often ask for feedback after completing a task, whether it’s praise or criticism.
With characterization and feedback being a never-ending cycle, managers must be able to communicate effectively with their subordinates and create an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable expressing their opinions. Similarly, employees must feel comfortable communicating with their supervisors, which will lead to stronger relationships and opportunities for career advancement in the future.
- They make you attractive
By being able to interact with others, you greatly increase your chances of being considered approachable by your colleagues and supervisors. Your colleagues will be more comfortable working with you and more likely to seek your advice and assistance if you make a conscious effort to improve your interpersonal skills.
In addition, employees become more pleasant to work with, allowing you to interact with them in a more meaningful way and thus increasing the overall productivity of the organization.
- They demonstrate social awareness
By developing good interpersonal skills, you show that you care about the well-being of your colleagues and customers, which helps you gain their trust and faith. Despite professionalism, life outside of work inevitably affects the work environment.
For example, good observation skills and emotional intelligence can help you handle difficult social situations. Interpersonal skills can also help you exercise the best judgment and make the best decisions in sensitive work situations and greatly enhance your customer service.
- They increase customer satisfaction
If your career involves dealing with customers, interpersonal skills should be a priority. Everyone knows that customer expectations are high, and if communication between the customer and the company breaks down, things go downhill quickly. Improving interpersonal skills can increase sales, boost negotiations and make customers happy with the service they receive.
- They build trust
Statistics from the American Psychological Association show that 34% of employees don’t trust their boss. A lack of openness can lead to employee frustration and a lack of loyalty. Strong interpersonal skills make it easy to inspire trust, which means relationships with co-workers and superiors will flourish.
How to Improve your Interpersonal Skills
- Identify what you need to improve
Identify areas of interpersonal communication that you can improve by asking your colleagues, supervisors, family, or friends for their input.
- Observe others
Learn good interpersonal skills by observing your colleagues, company leaders, and professionals you admire and respect.
Watch and listen to how they communicate and what nonverbal cues they use. Pay attention to details such as the tone of their voice, the speed of their speech, and the way they interact with others. Apply these characteristics to your communication and relationships.
- Learn to control your emotions
Engage in conversations with colleagues until you have calmed down. You are more likely to communicate confidently and effectively if you are in a positive frame of mind, not stressed or frustrated.
- Reflect on your interactions
Take notes or keep a journal of your conversations and interactions at work to learn how to cope or communicate better. Reflect on whether you could have reacted differently or used certain words, postures, or facial expressions more effectively. Also, note positive interactions to understand why they were successful.
- Practice your skills
Put yourself in situations where you can build relationships and use your interpersonal skills. For example, you can join a group that holds meetings or social events. This could be an industry group that you discovered through a professional organization, or a general interest or hobby group. Attend events to learn and observe how to communicate and relate to others.
- Recognize others
Pay attention to your friends and colleagues and try to communicate with them. Compliment your colleagues on their work or good ideas. Bring a colleague a cup of coffee. Ask team members how their week was or what their interests are to get to know them better. Offer to help someone who is having a bad day or a difficult time today. These steps will help you build stronger, more positive working relationships.
- Avoid distractions
Put your phone or mobile device away when interacting or communicating with others. Give it your full attention and don’t be tempted to check your email or check text messages. Staying focused will help you listen and understand more effectively.
- Attend classes
Sign up for workshops or classes that will help you improve your interpersonal skills. Tools such as basic online videos may be free, while you may have to pay for more advanced or face-to-face classes. For example, if you want to develop your verbal communication skills, you can take a public speaking course.
- Hire a mentor
Ask someone you respect or admire to help you improve your interpersonal skills. Your mentor can be a trusted colleague, a current or former employer or teacher, a family member, or anyone else you value. You can even hire a professional career or communication coach.
- Record yourself
Use a VCR or tape recorder to record your performance, then review or listen to the recording to identify areas for improvement in your communication. Note things you would like to change or develop, such as tone of voice, speed of speech, facial expression, word choice, or use of gestures. Take notes periodically so that you can assess your progress.
Jobs that Require Interpersonal Skills
- Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives must be able to communicate effectively with customers, listen to their concerns and provide helpful solutions.
- Sales Representative
Sales representatives need to be able to build relationships with potential clients and be persuasive to make a sale.
- Teacher
Teachers must be able to form relationships with their students and create a positive learning environment.
- Social Worker
Social workers need to build trust with their clients to help them.
- Nurse
Nurses need to be compassionate and empathetic when dealing with patients.
- Manager
Managers need to be able to motivate their employees and be able to handle conflicts between team members.
- Public Relations Manager
Public relations managers need to be able to effectively communicate the company’s message and build relationships with the public.
- Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers need to be able to effectively communicate with and manage employees.
- Psychologist
Psychologists need to be able to establish a trusting relationship with their patients to provide therapy.
- Event Planner
Event planners need to be able to coordinate with vendors, plan activities, and be able to resolve conflicts between different parties.
How to Include Interpersonal Skills in your Resume
- Create a separate section in your resume dedicated to interpersonal skills
Depending on the job you are applying for, you can create a section in your resume devoted to interpersonal skills. For example, if you are applying for a job in customer service, you can include a section titled “Interpersonal Skills” and list any relevant experiences or skills such as active listening, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
- Incorporate interpersonal skills into your work experience
When describing your job duties, find ways to incorporate your interpersonal skills. For example, if you have experience in customer service, you can highlight how you used problem-solving and active listening to resolve customer inquiries.
- Utilize action verbs
When describing your interpersonal skills, use action verbs such as “collaborated”, “mediated”, and “coached” to demonstrate how you used your interpersonal skills in your previous positions.
- Use keywords
Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords. When creating your resume, use keywords related to interpersonal skills such as “empathy”, “conflict resolution”, and “teamwork”.
- Highlight relevant volunteer and extracurricular activities
If you have volunteered or participated in extracurricular activities, highlight how these experiences have helped you develop interpersonal skills. For example, if you volunteered at a soup kitchen, you can explain how you used your interpersonal skills to connect with people in need.
Example of How to Include Interpersonal Skills in your Resume
The examples below illustrate how to include interpersonal skills in your resume as a customer representative:
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact and collaborate with customers, coworkers, and management.
- Established rapport with customers by listening and responding to their inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
- Developed strong customer relationships by providing courteous and knowledgeable customer service.
- Utilized active listening skills to ensure customer satisfaction and address their concerns.
- Demonstrated the ability to successfully diffuse difficult customer situations with tact and diplomacy.
How to Demonstrate Interpersonal Skills in an Interview
- Make Eye Contact
Making eye contact shows that you are engaged in the conversation and that you are actively listening to the interviewer.
- Answer Questions Directly
Make sure to answer questions directly, and provide specific examples to back up your answers.
- Show Enthusiasm
Showing enthusiasm throughout the interview indicates that you are truly interested in the job and passionate about the company.
- Ask Questions
Asking thoughtful questions shows that you have done your research and are prepared to discuss the job.
- Use Appropriate Body Language
Make sure to sit up straight, maintain an open posture, and use appropriate gestures when speaking.
- Show Confidence
Showing confidence in your abilities and abilities to contribute to the company will demonstrate that you are a strong candidate.
Examples of Interview Questions to test Interpersonal Skills
- Describe a situation where you had to work with someone who had a different opinion than you. How did you handle this situation?
This question tests the candidate’s ability to work with someone who has different views and opinions, as well as how they handle conflict.
- Describe a project you worked on that required collaboration with a team. How did you contribute to the success of the project?
This question tests the candidate’s ability to work in a team setting and how they contribute to the overall success of the project.
- Have you ever had to lead a group of people? How did you do it?
This question tests the candidate’s ability to lead a group of people, as well as their communication and organizational skills.
- Describe a difficult conversation you had with a colleague or customer. How did you handle it?
This question tests the candidate’s ability to handle difficult conversations with colleagues or customers, as well as their communication and negotiation skills.
