Developing interpersonal skills in the workplace – (with examples and Diagrams)

You might have seen in job profiles that the recruiter recommended the candidate to have strong interpersonal skills. If you are interested in knowing what is this interpersonal skills all about, then this article will provide you a comprehensive understanding of interpersonal skills by presenting the meaning, examples, importance of interpersonal skills, its usefulness in the workplace, resume, interview and relationship. You will also learn the ways to improve interpersonal skills. 

Being a former project manager in a renowned organization and being actively involved in the education industry for more than 8 years, I have begun my journey of having very low level of interpersonal skills to reaching a successful professional with strong interpersonal skills. So, I think I can help you in this topic ‘interpersonal skills’.

Interpersonal skills are also called social skills, people skills, soft skills, or life skills which includes verbal communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, working with team spirit, Negotiation ability, persuasion and influencing skills, conflict resolution or problem solving skills, decision making ability etc.

Interpersonal skills are essential for effective communication and interaction with other people either among friends and family or in professional working places.

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Interpersonal skills meaning
2. Types of interpersonal skills
3. Examples of interpersonal skills
4. Importance of interpersonal skills
5. How to improve interpersonal skills
6. Interpersonal skills for resume
7. Interpersonal skills for interview
8. Interpersonal skills in workplace
9. Interpersonal skills in relationships
10. Final Thoughts on interpersonal skills

1. Interpersonal skills meaning

Interpersonal meaning ‘relationships or communication between people’. 

Interpersonal skills meaning the skills that are used for building relationships or communicating with other people effectively either in the workplace or among friends, family and relatives. 

It is applied to communicate with individual, small and large groups of people. 

In order to be successful in your career, you are required to possess strong interpersonal skills, due to its demand in every workplace.  

To develop a quality relationship with others, you must develop interpersonal skills. 

2. Types of interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills can be of different types.  They are:

• Verbal communication skills
• Non-verbal communication skills
• Active Listening skills
• Negotiation ability
• Problem-solving or Conflict Resolution skills
• Decision-making ability
• Communicating among small or large groups
• Multitasking Skills
• Organization skills

3. Examples of interpersonal skills

Some of the examples of interpersonal skills are:

Verbal communication : Ability to deliver the thoughts, ideas, knowledge, emotions and feelings using words or language by speaking clearly and effectively. 

Non-verbal communication : Non-verbal communication skills are very essential examples of interpersonal skills that play a major role in interaction with others.

• communicating with maintaining regular eye contact
• appropriate body language or body movement
• right tone of voice
• displaying smiling and cheerful face
• being serious while the matter is serious
• not touching or scratching body parts
• not interrupting others
• nodding head to display interest in listening
• not being distracted
• being attentive and focused
• keeping yourself calm and relaxed while in pressure
• being careful of touch
• having appealing appearance
• maintaining personal space
• showing right postures

Listening skills : Listening attentively without interruption is another example of interpersonal skills, as it helps to create a better communication by minimizing the chances of misunderstanding and accelerating the quality communication.

Negotiation : In the business places, there will be situations where you need to negotiate effectively.

It  is a discussion process between two or more parties for a goal of reaching a solution regarding an issue, being both parties benefited with the maintenance of quality relationships.

The negotiation process goes through certain steps:

• Preparation regarding negotiation
• Having a clear understanding of the issue and setting goals
• Discussion on issues
• Aiming for a Win-Win Result
• Presenting right Agreement
• Finding the Solution

Decision-making ability :  We all make decisions in our day today’s life. Our decision can either be good or bad, good decisions bring positive results, whereas bad decisions result in negative impressions. Making wise and right decisions helps us to become a person with better interpersonal skills. 

Problem solving skills or Conflict Resolution skill : Every business faces problems and conflicts in some way or others. When you carry an approach of problem solving rather than being disappointed and worried, it shows that you have developed the problem solving skills. Ability to present resolution to a conflict is an important part of the entire business process. 

Assertiveness : It is standing up for your own thoughts, ideas or knowledge or other people’s rights in a calm and confident manner along with a positive way, without being aggressive.

Some other examples of interpersonal skills are:

• Communicating effectively with individual 
• Making effective communication among small or large group of people 
• Ability to do multitasking
• Carrying an attitude of empathy 
• Organization skill  which is the ability to focus on different tasks, and using the resources, time, energy, strength, capacity, place, etc.in the best manner to achieve the goal of the business.
• Having Self confidence in the work process
• Always carrying Positive Attitude 
• Maintaining strong work ethics 
• Managing time wisely and strategically to accomplish the work in the predefined time frame.
• Having a spirit of working as a team and achieving a single goal of the entire business 
• Handling Responsibility with integrity 
• Having leadership skill to lead the individuals or group of people
• Keeping self Motivation in the work to perform the work with best effort
• Flexibility in changes, especially being flexible in the technological changes as it is always upgrading to the betterment and adopting it. 
• Working with patience and keeping yourself cool even in pressure is another example of interpersonal skill. 
• Cooperating with others in the workplace
• Making and developing collaborations
• Capable of organizing events
• Ability to manage small or big team
• Creating, developing and maintaining relationship with others
• Reading other’s behaviors
• Acknowledging other’s strengths, qualities and talents and appreciating them accordingly
• Becoming a source of Inspire and motivation for others

4. Importance of interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are considered as the vital skills to possess for the success in the personal and group relationship with friends, colleagues, relatives and family as well as professional business places. 

Some of the importances of interpersonal skills are:

• Interpersonal skills leads to effective communication
• It opens many doors of opportunities before you
• Enhances client satisfaction 
• Trust is established and enhanced
• Personal relationships is made and retained
• Interpersonal skills helps you to become an effective leader
• Job recruiters seeks for excellent interpersonal skill
• You gain more self-esteem and confidence
• Your professional image develops
• Interpersonal skills contribute value and growth in the workplace
• You need to strongly possess the interpersonal skills in sales industries
• Your job possibility enhances as most job profile require this
• Possibility of your promotion increases as you add value to the business
• You develop a stronger and effective relationship in your workplace
• You become capable of better decision making
• Interpersonal skills make you an efficient problem-solver
• You become effective in speaking and writing
• Level of productivity increases in business
• Workflow become smoother and better
• Makes you a compelling and convincing employee
• Your possibility of success enhances
• Relationship with clients and customer become stronger
• There can be hike in your salary
• Can make the future leader in your workplace
• Interpersonal skills makes you a better business person
• You become a socialized person, which is a positive signal for conveying the information efficiently
• Relationship with your friends, colleagues, family and relatives develops
• You enjoy your work environment 
• Interpersonal skills enhances your performance in the workplace
• You become a better person in dealing with individuals, small group and large group
• Your stress level goes down
• Clients and customers become loyal and as a result customer retention enhances
• Interpersonal skills brings positive effect on business reputation
• It makes you an excellent verbal and nonverbal communicator
• Interpersonal skills helps the business goal to be achieved
• The Intent of communicator is fulfilled
• Minimizes the confusion and misunderstanding
• Present a better work culture
• Team spirit increases as a result business revenue can grow
• Sustainable growth is imparted in a business
• Managing the work and worker become easy
• Interpersonal skills gives you  job satisfaction

5. How to improve interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills can be learnt and developed by having a spirit of learning and determination to improve.

Here are some of top ways to improve your interpersonal skills:

• Collect honest feedback about your interpersonal skills from your friends, family and colleagues
• Make the criticism stepping stone to detect your weaknesses and strengthen them
• Observe the interpersonal skills of others who are excellent in communication
• Detect the skills you need to develop
• Apply on yourself the skills you lack
• Develop a positive attitude
• Always look at the problem as an opportunity to showcase your interpersonal skills
• Have a always learning spirit
• Take responsibilities and measure your performance
• Carry a cheerful or smiling face
• Be an active listener and avoid interrupting others
• Always think before you speak
• Go through planning and preparation before communication
• Develop a habit of appreciating others
• Carry humor in your communication
• Be empathetic to others

6. Interpersonal skills for resume

Your resume must display a screenshot of your interpersonal skills. Present your interpersonal skills by supporting with real practical examples.

7. Interpersonal skills for interview

The interview time is a great time to showcase your interpersonal skills to the recruiter. Recruiters or interviewers may ask you different questions to detect your interpersonal skills. Moreover, remember that your entire time of interview is observed and measured by the interviewer, so be prepared to display the  best image of your interpersonal skills during the time of interview. 

8. Interpersonal skills in workplace

Your interpersonal skills are capable enough to present you as an excellent or poor employee in your workplace. Always accept your mistakes and rectify them. Do not blame others to prove yourself right.

Learn, develop and showcase the interpersonal skills in your workplace and soon it will make you stand out from the crowd. 

9. Interpersonal skills in relationships

How our relationship will be with others depends on our interpersonal skills. When you see people are struggling with poor relationships, you must know that there are severe issues with interpersonal skills. 

Your strong interpersonal skills help you establish an enjoyable relationship with your friends, colleagues, relatives and obviously with the family members.

10. Final Thoughts on interpersonal skills

• Interpersonal skills are essential for building quality relationships with others among friends and family and also in the workplace.
• Some of the types of interpersonal skills are Verbal communication skills, Non-verbal communication skills, Active Listening skills, Negotiation ability, Problem-solving or Conflict Resolution skills, Decision-making ability
• Some of the examples of interpersonal skills are speaking clearly and easy to understand manners, using appropriate tone of voice during speaking, displaying right body movement, maintaining eye contact during listening etc. 
• Interpersonal skills can be improved by gathering honest feedback, detecting the weaknesses and rectifying them. Always carrying a spirit of learning from others and implementing the lacking interpersonal skills to become a better communicator. 

Let me know your suggestion in the comment section below for adding more life to this article and helping others to grow.

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