To simply put it, interpersonal skills are the abilities one uses to interact or deal with others effectively. They are also referred to as communication skills, people or soft skills. How a person deals with others influences his or her professional and personal life. And improving these can build confidence and enhance relationships with others.
An individual must be able to express oneself freely, clearly and effectively in order to get their point across. This means that it’s extremely important for us to pay attention to our own ways of interating and improve them as needed. In doing so, a person can be empowered without compromising the rights of others.
Effective and Assertive Communication
Effective communication is one of the techniques that a person can master. Listening to the person who is talking is an integral component to communicate effectively. A person needs to understand also what is being talked about before responding. And it’s essential to send your message clearly across to the recipient and to ask questions for clarification if it’s needed.
Another important skill to master is assertive communication. This is where an individual directs their message to a specific person in a way that exhibits power and confidence without being aggressive or harsh. This tool helps others to understand that the person talking is expressing an opinion or feeling instead of a demand.
It takes practice to achieve this level of assertiveness as many people tend to swing toward being too aggressive or backing down too much. It’s wise for the speaker to be able to get feedback from others to know that the message is specific and clearly delivered.
Conflict Resolution and Anger Management
Conflicts are bound to arise and this is when conflict resolution comes in handy. An individual needs to employ good communication and listening skills in order to resolve problems as they arise. It’s essential to maintain a positive attitude and communicate positive intentions to arrive with a solution that is fair and beneficial for both parties.
And to manage anger effectively is another technique requiring know how to develop. A person needs to diffuse his or her anger first before dealing with the situation that caused one to be angry. This can be done by taking a deep breath and walking away from the situation giving oneself the chance to calm down. Being calm gives the individual time to think clearly and positively. And then reflect on the appropriate way to handle the situation.
We all have the bases for these skills. We’ve been working at learning them since birth and now we need to find ways to develop and enhance them. And through these skills, we also learn how people are likely to react to what we say or do.
People with good interpersonal skills have learned to identify the best ways to interact with other people in different situations. Keep in mind that these can be easily developed with time and effort. Enhancing these skills can bring about huge rewards in your personal and professional life, so what are you waiting for?