Interpersonal Skills is The Backbone of Success

　

Interpersonal skills are all about developing good relations with people around you through right communication and behaviour. Communication includes both verbal and physical communication. The way you speak, what you speak and the body language you display plays a big part in creating your image. Good interpersonal and communication skills accompanied by brilliant ideas and hard work can work wonders for you. Life and business coaches recommend some steps that can prove useful to you in developing these skills.
Empathy and help: Empathy means to go beyond merely sympathising with a person's situation to understanding and addressing their problems. Developing an ability to look from another person's point of view like that of your colleagues, the people outside your workplace or your family might help you develop good positive relations with them. In addition you can also give compliments and appreciate people for their qualities and accomplishments. Try smiling often, it keeps the atmosphere cheerful; a genuine smile can accomplish many things.
Listen to people: Cultivating the habit of effective listening can go a long way in creating good relations for you. Those who really listen to what is being said are always liked. Many problems are caused because of lack of willingness in the other person to listen carefully. Such problems can be avoided. Life coaches and business coaches advise many ways in which you can communicate that you are listening. While in a conversation it is important that the speaker understand that you are listening; you can do this by maintaining a proper eye contact throughout the conversation. You might also want to encourage the speaker through different verbal or physical responses like shaking your head or making appropriate sounds. A relaxed and friendly expression also encourages the speaker. Asking appropriate questions after the speaker has finished will help you understand the conversation.
Assertiveness: Assertion may be a necessary quality for you to grow. Being assertive does not mean being rude. One can be friendly and helpful yet assertive in dealing with people. A direct approach in communication with colleagues might help you. However, you might want to take care that your assertiveness does not become a hurdle in maintaining relationship with your colleagues and friends. In such cases you can try and be frank, clear and precise in discussing the problem. It is also important that you give time to the other person to put their thoughts clearly in front of you and respect their point of view.
Conflict resolution: Conflicts are a part of all organisations and relationships. However, instead of taking part in the existing conflicts consciously or unconsciously, it might help you to act as a mediator. Playing favourites might lead to problems which can be avoided. You might also attempt to bring the people involved in conflicts together on a table and make them resolve their issues. It is important that you maintain a positive attitude and work with the best intentions. It might also help to not take offence or become personal in such situations. Finally try to find an alternative solution to the problem. Efforts in this direction will make the top management take notice of you and might lead to a leap in your career.
Developing effective interpersonal skills leads to great success and happiness in relationships. These strategies can be used at both workplace and in families. This might reduce conflicts and disharmony and contribute towards creating a healthy environment.