What are Interpersonal Skills?
The way you interact with people at your workplace makes all the difference. There could be many candidates who are capable and able to handle serious responsibilities but few of them become successful.
The successful ones are always great at interpersonal skills and know exactly how to interact with people of different designations and levels. Since this is an important trait, every individual should try to improve interpersonal skills if he wishes to grow and prosper.
Here we have listed down a few tips and suggestions that will help on how to improve interpersonal skills at the workplace.
Tips to Improve Interpersonal Skills at Work:
Employees should understand the importance of interpersonal skills and the communication skills at work. The following mentioned are few tips on how to improve interpersonal skills in the workplace.
1. Improve Language Skills:
Very often, individuals fail to communicate with others in their office because they have great language problems. Individuals who lack proficiency in a particular language feel conscious of speaking and scared that they will be made fun of. This prevents candidates from mingling.
If you have language problems that prevent you from speaking to others in your office or workplace, you need to make sure to get over these problems by improving skills necessary. In most offices, the professional language of communication is English. You must try and master this language.
First, you must work on your vocabulary. Learning new words and usages will help you understand what others are speaking and this will help your confidence to grow. Once you start interacting with others, you will become aware of the common mistakes you are making while communicating. Correcting these will help you gain language proficiency. This way, you will go one step ahead to improve interpersonal skills in professional life.
2. Work on Your Body Language:
You must remember that body language has a much greater impact than the words you actually speak. If you have a poor body language that reveals a lack of confidence and fear, it will affect your interpersonal skills too. People do not enjoy conversing with meek individuals.
Make sure you have a proper posture and gait so that it reveals confidence. Pick the right kind of attire so that people feel you possess class. Avoid fidgeting, itching your forehead or rubbing your hands as these are all common signs of nervousness and tension.
Always greet people with a smile as this expression reveals friendliness. You must give a brisk shake hand as this shows your level of confidence. Proper grooming is also a vital aspect. Make sure your hair is combed properly and your shoes are perfectly polished. If you are well groomed, it naturally attracts people towards you.
3. Follow the Leaders:
It is always good to have a role model. If you are trying to improve interpersonal skills, you must have someone as your role model. You can look up to your boss or your team leader. These are professionals who are in high positions due to their superior communication and interpersonal skills.
While imitation is regarded as the best way to flattery, there are some aspects of professional life where imitation is the best way to success. Try to learn from your bosses how they motivate people and inspire them. Try to inculcate the interpersonal abilities in yourself as these are easy ways to grow and prosper.
Success in a profession is not possible without good interpersonal skills. A major part of these skills is the way you interact with people. Try and observe how your seniors deal with people in different situations.
4. Boost your Confidence:
Even when you are aware of the best ways to communicate, you cannot bring these to life unless you possess confidence. That is the reason why you need to boost your confidence to that level which is not easy. Individuals suffer from low self-esteem or self-image when they have faced a lot of failures in succession.
If that is your case, try to change your attitude. You must try and look at the positive side of things. Try to bring positive thoughts in your mind. You also need to be stress free to be actually confident. If there are several challenges, you must try to sort them out or live with it without affecting your self image.
A stress free mind means regular Yoga and meditation. You may also keep yourself entertained with movies or hobbies that interest you. These will help to keep your spirits high.
5. Failure is a Stepping Stone:
If you are thrown into a completely new background due to your job, you are bound to take a time to understand the new ways to communicate. In this period, there are chances that you mess with your communication and become a laughing stock.
In such situations, do not lose your confidence. You must remember that failure is a stepping stone to success. If you give up as soon as you fail, you will never be able to enjoy the fruits of success. So stay confident and try to understand why the others rebuked your ways. Alter your communication style and things are sure to change.
6. Learn the Common Lingo:
It is not sufficient that you perfect the professional language. It may help in your professional interactions in office but if you wish to get closer with office colleagues, you need to know the common lingo. These usually include fun language, jokes and common views on certain aspects. If you are aware of these facts, you will be able to participate in office discussions.
It is necessary to share a cordial relationship with office colleagues if you wish to stay informed. This can happen only if you are familiar with the office lingo.
7. Practice Oratory:
As you progress in your career, at some point you will have to speak to your subordinates and provide them valuable advice. This means that you will have to use your oratory skills at some point and it is wise to furnish them in advance.
Many candidates tend to possess stage fear. This can act as a hindrance to progress. You may start by practicing in front of the mirror. When you think that you have outgrown your fear, you can ask some friends to play the audience while you make a speech.
If your friends provide any valuable feedback, take it in a positive light and do not neglect it. Improvise till you make a good orator. It will help you ascend the career ladder easily.
8. Speak When You Should:
If you want to develop good relations in office, you need to be proactive. Professionals are the ones who are willing to take initiative and do not just sit and listen to others. If you think your opinion may help to improve the work culture in your office, make sure you speak up. Speaking the right thing at the right time is known to create a good impression on your mates and colleagues.
While speaking is essential, you need to think and speak. You must see how your speech will impact the company scenario and then place your opinion. Speaking without proper thinking is never a good approach.
9. Be Willing to Share:
While communication skills is an important part of interpersonal relationship skills, there are other aspects that matter equally. One such thing is sharing. You need to share things, views, ideas and thoughts with your colleagues to ensure that your bond strengthens and your professional relationship goes to the next level.
Sharing food is often regarded as the best way to get closer. Often, colleagues get to know each other best during the lunch time when they share lunch as well as friendly gossips in a workplace. If there is a unique situation, when everyone shares views and ideas, a solution comes up. Brainstorming happens best when everyone is willing to reveal what they actually think.
10. Make Books Your Best Friends:
Books don’t just help to gain proficiency in a certain language but also add to your knowledge. Books help you gain knowledge on different fields. Regular reading also helps to develop better concentration and agility. Thus, it is a great idea to befriend the books.
Books greatly contribute to strong interpersonal skills as they help you gain knowledge on different subjects that may be discussed in your office. When you have knowledge in the subject, you will be able to speak on it.
A person who has knowledge on many different topics is regarded as wise and knowledgeable. Your colleagues and teammates will respect you if you possess such immense knowledge.
Finally :
Interpersonal skills are vital in any modern work environment. People who fail to possess these skills fail to grow. The modern work culture relies greatly on team effort and a person who lacks the ability to interact with colleagues can never make a great team player.
Most of us wish to grow and be leaders in our field. Leaders need to possess the ability to understand and interact with each employee as well as understand his skills and weaknesses.
Progress is thus hinged on interpersonal skills and if you follow the above suggestions, you will be able to acquire better interpersonal skills which will help you to grow.
