Tips to strengthen your people skills

Well, hello there!

How was your weekend? Have you met the new hire? Hey, I loved that presentation you gave last week. I was just reviewing it this morning!

In the work world, there are few things more cherished than a good watercooler moment, those times on the job when you take a break from checking off your to-do list to chitchat with a coworker about this, that, or some other thing. While some might think of these moments as just distractions, they actually reveal the important social side of work. In other words, how we work with others is often just as important as what we do for work.  

That’s why, in this week’s Career Chat, we’re taking a break from talking about technical skills to dive into interpersonal skills and what you can do to build them. In past issues, we’ve explored what you can do to overcome imposter syndrome, manage burnout, and reconnect with your goals. Now, we’re focusing on steps you can take to boost your relationships with others in the workplace. Pour yourself a cone-shaped paper cup of water and let’s talk people skills. 

Want to start building your people skills now? Enroll in IBM’s People and Soft Skills for Professional and Personal Success Specialization.

😁What are interpersonal skills? 

Interpersonal skills are all those innate and learned skills used to maneuver social situations, such as in your workplace, school, and personal life. Also called “people skills,” these ensure that you work well with teammates, communicate effectively, guide and lead others, and adapt well to change, among other things. 

While technical skills like data analysis or budget management tend to get a lot of attention from job seekers, interpersonal skills are often key to acing that job interview, landing a long-sought promotion, and collaborating with new colleagues. Some common examples of interpersonal skills include:

• Communication 
• Empathy 
• Conflict resolution 
• Negotiation 
• Active listening 
• Teamwork
• Leadership 
• Networking 
• Motivation
• Persuasion 

Most of us—yes, introverts, too—already possess many of these skills in some measure. Developing them further, though, can be critical to continued career success. 

🤝How to improve your interpersonal skills 

Just like anything else, it’s possible to improve your interpersonal skills with some intention-setting, practice, and self-reflection. Here are some steps you can take to help you boost these all-important skills for professional success:

1. Take stock of your current skills. The first step to building your interpersonal skills is to take stock of those you already possess and those you’d like to build or develop further. Think back on your past interactions with friends, family, partners, colleagues, and employers, and identify those people skills you’ve mastered and those that you want to improve.  

2. Develop an action plan. Choose one or two skills you’d like to build and then create an actionable plan for strengthening them. For example, if you’d like to build your collaboration skills, you might make it a habit to ask your coworkers what projects they’re currently working on. 

3. Reflect on your growth. While discomfort is a natural part of the growth process, it’s important to recognize when you feel comfortable and confident in your approach to interpersonal situations. Positive feelings indicate you’ve found a productive path to building your skills.

🗣️Boost your interpersonal skills

Building relationships is key to fostering team harmony, handling conflict, and getting promoted. Develop the skills you need to boost your workplace relationships with these recommended courses:   

To build critical interpersonal skills, take IBM’s Developing Interpersonal Skills course. Afterward, consider completing IBM’s full People and Soft Skills for Professional and Personal Success Specialization. 

For methods to maneuver conflicts, try Emory University’s Conflict Transformation course. Explore how conflict offers opportunities for constructive change and learn tools and methods to engage them constructively. 

To become a more effective manager, enroll in UC Davis’ Coaching Skills for Managers Specialization. Learn proven techniques to coach your people to higher performance. 

For the fundamentals of active listening, consider the Coursera Instructor Network’s Active Listening: Enhancing Communication Skills course. Learn practical techniques to engage in meaningful conversations, recognize and interpret nonverbal cues, 

Okay, friends, that’s it for this week! Before you start building your active listening skills, try out your communication skills by letting us know what interpersonal skills you use the most in the workplace. See you next week!

Have a career question you’d like us to answer next? Share it below. And, as always, we welcome YOUR advice and experience in the comments.