Interpersonal Skills: Why Improving Them Can Benefit You At The Workplace

Whether you are seeking a job or climbing the corporate ladder, there are several skills you must be armed with. But one of the surest ways to secure your position in the professional world is not just having an excellent work ethic. You must also have good interpersonal skills. 

Take note that this does not mean you have to be a social butterfly or be the life of the party. Here, we share with you what these types of skills really entail – plus some tips we can pass on to sharpen what you currently have. 

What are interpersonal skills?

In its basic definition, interpersonal skills is the capacity to effectively communicate what you want people to know. You can see this type of skill work best in the relationships you have, whether that be in your personal or professional life. From sharing your needs with your boss to confessing your feelings to a crush, interpersonal skills are an essential skill to have. 

Aside from that, these skills help you get along with people. Social interaction is critical to thriving in the world, the levels of which are variable. But having a way with people can get you to the top quicker and can give you an edge over other jobseekers. 

If you are a professional seeking an opportunity, your employer can see these skills come to life in a job interview. The way you negotiate your salary, answer the hard-hitting questions, and your interactions throughout the recruitment process as well. Companies promote employees who have great rapport with their colleagues, their boss, and their clients. Explaining why they need a raise, greater responsibilities, and ways to bring in profit during sales runs are just some of the examples. 

What are the types of interpersonal skills?

When it comes down to it, you can divide interpersonal skills into three major categories: Connection, Negotiation, and Resolution. These categories can help you better understand the areas in this skillset you are strong at, and what aspects you need improvement on. 

1. Connection

Every relationship starts with a spark. Whether that is with a significant other, a boss, friends, or colleagues, you do not just become friends by only staring at each other from across the room. You get to know each other by finding out what makes you tick in both the pleasant and not so pleasant way. Examples of these include:

• Social interaction
• Listening to when someone is speaking
• Bonding over common interests
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Building trust

2. Negotiation

There is a song that goes “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” But at work, having at least 90% to 95% of the deal is not an impossible feat. This is where your negotiation skills come in. It is about knowing what you want and securing it. It is a soft demand, standing your ground without the other party feeling pressured. This is a critical category especially when asking for a raise or for a promotion. 

• Presentation skills
• Leadership
• Self-awareness and awareness of others
• Communicating needs
• Comprehension

3. Resolution

If we learned anything from daily life, it is that not every day is sunny. Sometimes, you get roped into the occasional argument or heavy discussions. These are inevitable, therefore you must be able to get through these without crying or breaking down. But the hope here is that every storm comes to an end. In professional speak, resolution comes to fruition. Examples of these include:

• Giving and receiving constructive feedback
• Conflict management and resolution
• Empathy, patience, and sensitivity to others’ needs
• Flexibility and compromise
• Self-accountability and honesty

How can you improve your interpersonal skills?

The best way to nurture any kind of skill is through practice. Like any other kind of skills, they do not improve by being stagnant. Actively applying them to your life can boost your skillset by a mile, especially if you are open to it. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Embrace teamwork assignments. 

If you are an independent worker, that is all well and good. But improvements to your job do not only come from being on a solo flight. You can learn a thing or two by involving yourself in a group task at work. When you take on a big project that requires several departments’ help, this can be very beneficial to your leadership skills. 

Working with your colleagues can help you develop a bond with them, a tie that you can use whenever you need support. Successful talents thrive not only because of what they know, but the community that they are surrounded by as well. 

2. Support and congratulate your colleagues when possible.

In the Broadway play, Wicked, there is a line that goes, “Everyone deserves the chance to fly!” So when your colleagues are about to lift off, be there to watch and help them soar. Welcoming the successes of others is an act of humility, and such behavior will come back to you during your era of success too. 

Whether that be congratulating them for a job well done or supporting their big projects, they will surely appreciate that and have your back too when you need them. 

3. Be an active listener.

Do you ever interact with people that only talk about themselves? Do you ever feel like you are one sometimes, and your colleagues cannot get a word in edgewise? It is important to remember that camaraderie is a two-way street. Both parties must be involved, not just one. How do you best respect the other side in a relationship? You must be able to listen too. 

But did you know that there are two types of listening? You have passive listening and active listening. The former is just wanting to get through their story and then moving on to yours. On the other hand, the latter is actively involving yourself in their story. 

Whether that be mirroring their stories, asking follow-up questions, or remembering small details from past conversations, these are what can help boost your listening skills in the best way possible. 

4. Be empathetic and considerate.

Interacting with people is also being aware of what they need or feel. This is also where you can best apply active listening. Just like how you can share your needs with your boss or others, so should you do the same for your colleagues. Listening to them sounding off, knowing their triggers, or keeping certain things confidential are just some examples of empathy. 

Refraining or avoiding condescending remarks, belittling people, condoning and using abusive or vulgar language are also good ways to be considerate. Empathy is respect, after all, and it is a core part of a good relationship. 

5. Communicate your needs clearly.

When you want something, say it. If you see something, say it. One of the most important aspects of a good communicator is to know what you want and know how to say it. It is a good balance of logic and emotions, where you can say what you feel without screaming, shouting, or raising your voice unnecessarily.

Employers are looking for good communicators, because the self-confidence levels are usually high here. When you can say what you want, you usually get what you want. That is just how the world works. 

How do you highlight interpersonal skills on your resume or interview?

Interpersonal skills are transferable skills, in essence. So they can be highlighted in any resume for a job application. But if you are looking at a job that is people-facing or requires interpersonal skills, you can highlight it in the Career Objective, embed it within your job experience, or place it at the top of your Skills section in the resume. 

For your interview, you can show it best through the way you negotiate or the way you answer. You can even share experiences that involve interpersonal skills, like customer service anecdotes or an event that required problem solving. 

Whether you like it or not, developing your interpersonal skills is a must. It is up to you on how much you nurture such a skill set, but know that it can help you go a long way. 

Update your profile then search jobs on our website or download the JobStreet app on the App Store or Google Play. Check out Explore Careers on how you can brush up further on your skills!

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