A survey conducted on how relevant interpersonal skills are at work revealed that 30% of people fail to advance at their workplace because they lack interpersonal skills. This is higher than work ethics, which ranked at 25%. According to CFOs, 77% of people find it challenging to develop interpersonal skills even when they are so crucial. These soft skills are valuable for team members, leaders, and managers.
1. Have a great attitude
If you are always complaining and criticizing, nobody will want to be around you. A positive attitude makes it easy to get along with coworkers, reduces pressure and stress, and helps you remain flexible in your job. It will help you grow in your position and even advance in your career. You can maintain a positive attitude by avoiding negative thinking, spending time with positive people, giving yourself time to recharge, rewarding yourself for a good job, and being thankful for every milestone you make at work and in your personal life.
Having a positive attitude might need you to have accountability partners. Accountability partners don’t have to be your colleagues. For instance, if you are planning for a wedding, your groomsmen can be your accountability partners because they will have your back and help you relax when things are overwhelming. You can get groomsmen sets from GroomsShop as thank you gifts to appreciate them and solidify your bond as friends.
2. Manage your relationships
You spend a lot of time with your coworkers, especially if you are a full-time employee. Cultivating good relationships will help you do a better job, and make you happier when you are at work. When dealing with a difficult coworker or manager, remain professional. A problematic coworker might end up being a friend over time. Besides, fighting with them will not make the situation any easier for you. To manage your relationships, build trust, mutual respect, be mindful of others, and welcome diversity. You should also communicate clearly and effectively, consider what others say, and factor in your colleague’s insights in your decision-making.
3. Learn how to resolve conflicts
When you are working with people, it’s natural that shoulders will brush the wrong way. You will have to resolve disputes at some point, whether you are a manager or an employee. It may be between you and another colleague, between two colleagues or between the company and a client. Learn to listen fairly to both sides and use your creativity to solve the problem.
4. Be an active listener
Engage with someone when they talk to you and be genuinely interested in what they are saying. Maintain eye contact and have your full attention on them. Nod, smile and ask clarifying questions to make sure you understand them. Don’t fiddle with your phone, check your email or write in your notebook.
Interpersonal skills complement your hard skills at work. Hard skills are easier to learn, but with practice and being conscious of how you carry yourself, you can learn soft skills as quickly as you do hard skills.
