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There was a time when you thought a good education and solid technical skills were all you needed for success. But in today’s job market, excellent technical skills and rich domain experience are not enough. You also need practical work experience. But, above all, it’s your interpersonal skills that make you stand out in an organization and help you climb the ladder of success.
Your ability to show that you can fit well into the company’s culture is what most recruiters look for in job applications and interviews. Interpersonal skills complement your technical abilities and improve your performance and social interactions at work.
The Importance of Interpersonal Skills in the workplace
You must have seen highly professional and easily approachable people at your office who are admired for their interpersonal skills. And with good reason. Everyone wants to be around those who have a positive attitude as they always bring cheer to an office. So, while your technical skills will help you achieve your career goals on time, your interpersonal skills will play a crucial role in shaping your career path.
Here’s how strong interpersonal skills help in the workplace.
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Effective communication:
Having good interpersonal relations at work will help you communicate more clearly with colleagues. When there is clear and transparent communication among coworkers, teams perform better and the organization thrives.
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Expanding opportunities:
Friends and colleagues are often sources of information about more exciting opportunities in one’s field of interest. Cultivate friendships with people you work with and stay in touch with them even after you have moved on from the organization. This will prove to be invaluable as you grow in your career.
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Being relatable:
Your active listening skills and openness will make your coworkers feel more comfortable in opening up to you. Soon you will find them seeking advice and help from you. Collaborating with your colleagues will become easier, which will make your work more productive and fruitful.
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Better manager:
If your team feels left out of the company’s activities or decisions, they may start looking for other jobs. It isn’t always possible to keep your subordinates happy, but earning their trust will help you manage your team better. You can earn their trust by being approachable, empathetic, and respectful.
Where can you highlight your Interpersonal skills?
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Resume:
Your resume and cover letter are good places to highlight your interpersonal skills. Use these simple resume writing tips to stand out among job applicants:
- Identify the interpersonal skills or traits you want to focus on
- List the skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for
- Be prepared to share a story or experience that shows you possess those skills
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Job Interview:
Once the recruitment team shortlists your application, the next step is the job interview. While you may be prepared to demonstrate your technical skills and knowledge, also be prepared to showcase your interpersonal skills in the interview. Practicing and regularly honing your interpersonal skills will give you a strong understanding of your strengths and limitations.
A job interview is an opportunity to show you are professional, polite, and a good fit for the company’s work culture. Pay attention to how the interviewers react to your behavior.
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Workplace:
Being a team player is critical for success at work. Today, employees are expected to show active collaboration and join hands immediately to help colleagues in need. Your effective teamwork and interpersonal skills at the workplace will be noticed and will lead to opportunities for you to step in and lead. Remember, there is no ‘I’ in teamwork. And every organization grows tall on the foundations of strong teamwork. Strong and effective interpersonal skills are valued highly in the professional world. These skills inspire and lead to trust, transparency, and improved productivity, helping you climb the ladder of success.
Explore topics such as What are Interpersonal Skills, Interpersonal Communication Skills and the Interpersonal Skills Examples from our Harappa Diaries blog section to ace your soft skills.
