What are interpersonal skills? These are the skills that enable you to work efficiently with others without any personality conflict. These skills will help you build good working relationships with your clients, employees and business associates. Working well with others involves understanding and appreciating individual differences. Therefore, interpersonal skills play an important role in determining how well you manage your interactions with customers and employees. How you behave with them can determine your success or failure. Try the following helpful tips to improve your interpersonal skills:
No one wants to be around someone who is always morose and frowning. Maintain a positive, cheerful attitude about work and life. Practice smiling often.
Be generous with praise and words of encouragement. If you let others know that they are appreciated, they’ll want to give you their best. If you have to criticize, do it gently and give suggestions for improvement.
Pay attention to people. Make eye contact and address people by their first names. Ask them for their opinions and suggestions. Really listen to what they have to say.
Keep your promises. If you tell your customer that you will have the item in stock by the end of the week, make sure it is there. But make promises sparingly and do not commit to doing something that you cannot accomplish.
Treat everyone fairly and do not play favourites. Avoid talking and discussing others behind their backs.
Keep an open mind. Remember there is always room for discussion and compromise.
Learn how to be an effective mediator and help sort out differences. By taking on such a leadership role, you will garner respect and admiration from those around you.
Pay close attention to both what you say and how you say it. Your body language and tone of voice will give you away. Think before you speak and avoid misunderstandings or hurt feelings.
Most people are drawn to a person who can make them laugh. Use your sense of humor as an effective tool to enhance your interpersonal skills.
Try to see things from another person’s perspective. Empathy is about being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understanding how they feel.
There is nothing worse than a chronic complainer or whiner. Do not talk about your problems, instead focus on the other person’s problem and try to help out.
To run a successful business as well as enjoying a fulfilling personal life, it is necessary for you to establish a good, comfortable relationship with:
Your customers: nothing puts off a prospective client more than an unhelpful attitude and surliness.
Your employees: to retain good employees, you have to be seen as a positive, cheerful boss.
Your business associates: networking is one of the keys to good business. By being known as a caring, cheerful person, you are likely to make more friends in your business circle.
