Interpersonal skills are crucial in the workplace.
Encompassing key skills such as communication, cooperation, and empathy, the importance of interpersonal skills has become more apparent in recent years. And, while many interpersonal skills may come naturally (as part of your natural personality), others can be learnt and refined over time.
What are interpersonal skills?
Put simply; interpersonal skills are people skills. They are the skills we need to be able to collaborate and communicate with others effectively.
Plus, recruiters are also taking the importance of interpersonal skills more seriously. When it comes to new hires, an increasing number of employers are basing their decisions on whether they feel that candidates can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills.
The importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace:
Without interpersonal skills, working would be hard. After all, every aspect of your working day requires some degree of communication!
According to CareerAddict, on a scale of 1 to 5, managers rate the importance of having good interpersonal skills at 4.37. With this in mind, it becomes difficult to dispute the importance of interpersonal skills.
Plus, not only do strong interpersonal skills ensure your success as a key player in your wider team, but they also help promote a positive work environment. Think about it: when you're more personable, the more likely you are to be able to perform as a cohesive member of your team, and communicate well!
How can strong interpersonal skills progress your career?
There are several key interpersonal skills that can give you an edge in the workplace. These include:
- Self-confidence
- Work ethic
- Relationship management
- Receptiveness to feedback
- Body language
- Listening
- Collaboration
- Conflict management
- Positive attitude
- Workplace etiquette
And while (as we've already mentioned) many of the above skills can be a natural part of your personality, others may need some fine-tuning. And, not only can interpersonal skills play a massive part in how we deal with others, but they can also play a vital role in the future of your career:
Without good interpersonal skills, you will limit your progress
Strong interpersonal skills can produce strong leaders. By being able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills - such as healthy communication and conflict management strategies - you are more likely to become a strong team leader, supervisor, or manager.
You’ll be able to maintain better working relationships
Being able to demonstrate good interpersonal skills can help you establish better connections with your coworkers. You need to be able to work well with others, while also being able to provide them with the affirmations that you also expect from them. And, without these basic qualities, you may not be well-received by your coworkers, which could impair your career prospects.
Overall client satisfaction will improve
In many client-facing roles, interpersonal skills are key when it comes to interacting with customers. Strong interpersonal skills - like listening and conflict management - can help make our working day run much smoother.
Without these skills, you may not be able to handle high-stress situations efficiently, which could lead to more frustrating problems arising.
MDA Training understands the importance of interpersonal skills
Across the working world, many industries - like investment banking - are facing change, disruption, and regulatory pressures. In these situations, we know the importance of interpersonal skills - employees need to be able to display first-rate abilities.
That's why we offer a range of people and interpersonal skill modules, which are designed and delivered with your workforce in mind.
With our virtual training programmes, you can rest assured that your workforce is learning the necessary skills to execute their roles to the best of their ability.
We also understand the value of experiential learning. Our virtual workshops are almost entirely experiential, and take your workforce through a variety of scenarios and outcomes. By doing this, we can guarantee that participants come away with the insights and practical tools they need to complete their job to the highest standard. Plus, these skills can be quickly implemented in the workplace, too!