Interpersonal skills are essential ways of relating with your colleagues at work or even in Business.
It is not surprising that it is classified as a must have by employers globally and these include verbal communication, body language, active listening, empathy, teamwork, and conflict resolution.
You can develop these skills when you:
- 1. Take a honest assessment of your skillset:
- what are those skillsets you have that can come handy for your growth? Draw a list and holistically appraise yourself
- 2. Identify what you need to improve on: what areas are you lacking that may affect you?
- 3. Learn to control your emotions: How to react to situation and people around you in your workplace is essential. You need to be sensitive to people and show empathy where applicable. You must be dispassionate when being challenged .
- 4. Watch others with great skillsets and shadow them: There is no how you won’t encounter great people in your office whose skillsets are top notch, approach them, court them, learn from them because not all skills are acquired from the classroom.
- 5. Practice your skills at any given opportunity at work events, meetings etc: offer, volunteer to take up tasks in your workplace to hone your skills, you learn when mistakes are made and become efficient over time.
- 6. Reflect and access constantly on your performance: Appreciate feedback, either positive or negative to enable you get better
- 7. Take up courses if need be; If you must take courses to improve, by all means do! There are many free online courses to help you.Look for them and improve on yourself
- 8. Avoid distractions when engaging your colleagues: Its downright rude to engage your colleague while at the same time punching the phone or browsing. Rather finish your business before phone use.
- 9. Get a mentor: Everyone needs one to help you navigate through workplace. Could be in your office, your industry or in the society , ask for help or possibly hire a coach if you need one.
The advantages of these skills cannot be over emphasised. So what are you waiting for?
Headliner Omolola
