Life skills that we use on a daily basis to interact and communicate with our family, friends and work mates are known as Interpersonal Skills. These skills are used and practiced individually across different situations in our day-to-day lives, whether you are college, at your workplace or spending time with the family.

As a reputed trainer and a powerful Emcee in India, Gaston Dsouza lists down the following areas of interpersonal skills which enhances an individual’s overall growth and improves the chances of success in personal and professional life:

• Problem solving
• Effective Communication
• Decision Making
• Team work
• Positive attitude
• Responsibility and accountability
• Self- awareness and management

The Importance of Interpersonal skills

It could be a job interview you are attending, a group discussion or any college activity, with good interpersonal skills, it is possible to make a good impression on those who matter and contribute in a positive manner. When one has basic interpersonal skills in place, it will not only give you a much-needed edge over competition but will boost social interactions and enhance performance. Let us discuss this briefly:

Communication is strengthened:

Through effective communication, it becomes possible to boost the morale of the team and ensure that the final output of any project is enhanced too. Through good communication, a leader can communicated his expectations, goal and agenda related to a project

Problem solving skills are sharpened:

While developing interpersonal skills, one is able to hone skills like decision making and problem solving. People tend to come for advice for personal and professional problems and one is able to identify solutions by taking difficult yet bold decisions.

Boosts employment opportunities:

Prospective employers are always on the lookoutfor candidates who show great interpersonal skills and possess the potential to grow into future leaders through these skills. This helps people to become effective communicators, strong team players and manage people well.

Ways to develop interpersonal skills

Here are a few tips to do that effectively:

Listen actively:

When a co-worker or a senior is talking to you, it is important to make
him/her feel that you are interested and this can be easily done through active listening. Rephrasing their thoughts or nodding affirmatively will show that you understand and follow what they say.

Use positive body language:

Smile more often, be cheerful and radiate positive energy while interacting with others. People who do this are always in demand. Creating a positive aura around you will motivate your team without making any extra effort.

Learn to empathize:

An important trait while working with people is to understand their point of view and empathize with them. Look at things from their perspective and you will align to the other person’s needs more efficiently.

If you are a manager who leads a team, an event anchor in Mumbai or a small business entrepreneur, it is necessary to possess and develop interpersonal skills to be successful in all the above-mentioned areas. Inspire confidence and team spirit and you can easily create a loyal and connected team.