Starting with the basics, social skill is the way, behavior or even attitude you have publicly with others. It is mainly verbal, but the term also refers to physical, mental, and emotional behavior socially. In the workplace, social skills are known as interpersonal skills.
Both social skills and interpersonal skills refer to the same thing—interaction with others. In your place of work, you get to interact with numerous people and you need to know how to do so properly.
For socialization, interpersonal skills are crucial. They are related to dominance vs. submission, love vs. hate, affiliation vs. aggression, and control vs. autonomy categories. Positive interpersonal skills include delegation, active listening, persuasion, and stewardship among others.
You might end up meeting new people every day at your place of work. And as people come from many different backgrounds, everybody will have a different temperament and the kind of mood they tend to show.
Interpersonal skills let you make good relationships with other people. And the best of relations make for a successful life, especially as far as your profession is concerned.
Here are seven interpersonal skills tips that will help you develop healthy relationships and get along great with people in the workplace:
- Managing relationships
- Cooperate with others
- Great Attitude
- Show respect
- Appropriate contact
- Active Listening
Managing Relationships and Understanding Others
If you are a permanent full-time worker, then it is estimated that you spend almost 40 hours with your colleagues. You can begin to see why it is so important to have good relationships with your coworkers and managers!
Good relationships will help you get along well with people and help you to do your job better. Always remain polite and professional towards each and every one. If you need to confront a person, make sure you do it thoughtfully. You never know! A difficult coworker could become a friend over time.
Empathy is known as the ability to understand and relate to the feelings of others. Having empathy at the workplace makes people feel that you understand them and their situations well so they start connecting or relating to you more. Make them feel comfortable with you.
Cooperate With Others
Cooperating, or working well with others, is an important part of interpersonal skills in the workplace. Even though each employee might have his or her tasks and goals, the entire staff or team has the same goal.
That goal is to help the company be successful. Without cooperation, the workplace can be an unpleasant place, and the company will not succeed. Ensure each person is able to share his or her ideas or thoughts. Encourage your group to be a safe space for sharing and collaborating.
Have A Great Attitude
A great attitude will help you cope with the pressure and stress as well as help you be more flexible in your job. Always sharing a positive attitude will help you grow in your position and ultimately help you move forward in your career. Five best attitudes at the workplace are:
- Avoid negative thinking and complaining
- Spend time with people who have a positive attitude
- Be thankful for your job
- Give yourself a chance to recharge
- Reward yourself for doing a good job
Show Respect
When you show others respect in the workplace, people will respect you. You can show others respect by being polite and using your manners. Always remember to say courtesy words like please and thank you.
When people are talking to you, listen to what they are saying and make eye contact to show that you are listening. Wait until other people have finished speaking before you respond so that you don’t make them forget what they wanted to say.
Appropriate Contact
Interpersonal skills are not just about the things you say at work; they also include your actions or the things you do. The way you act towards people at work will determine whether or not they feel comfortable around you.
Start by always standing an appropriate distance away from the person with whom you are talking. Some people dislike being touched, so it is important that you respect people’s personal space. Besides a simple pat on the back or handshake, it is best not to touch people in the workplace. Keeping your hands to yourself will ensure that you don’t offend or upset others.
Active Listening
Active listening means you are fully engaged while listening to someone talk. You’re completely focused on the person speaking. You are making eye contact, nodding, and occasionally asking questions to make sure you understand.
Use these tips to polish your social skills and become the person everyone is comfortable being around.