Developing your interpersonal skills — how you communicate with others — can help you both personally and professionally.
When hiring managers have qualified applicants with similar skill levels and experience, many will gauge which candidates’ interpersonal skills best fit with their existing team. Developing your interpersonal skills — how you communicate with others — can help you both personally and professionally. Find out what traits managers look for most and how to improve your interpersonal skills before your next interview.
Self-confidence
Not to be confused with arrogance, self-confidence demonstrates you’ve done your research on the position you’ve applied for and feel confident you possess the skills necessary to get the job done. When you have confidence in yourself and your abilities, you are more likely to seek out relationships with co-workers, managers and even acquaintances. Writing down your strengths, acknowledging your skills and reflecting on positive experiences can give you a stronger sense of self-worth. You may be surprised by how many skills you have. With self-confidence, you must also know when to ask for help when needed.
Positive attitude
No one enjoys a Debbie Downer or a Negative Ned, so it’s important to maintain a positive outlook, even in less-than-ideal circumstances. Managers look to surround themselves with positive people. To practice being more positive, try using only positive words and smiling when describing your previous positions or past difficult situations. Adding a positive spin can make a big impact, since managers appreciate candidates who can reduce conflicts and maintain their composure and positivity when working in a team. To prepare for an interview, ask yourself how you would handle a difficult work situation.
Team player
Interviewers seek out candidates who are comfortable venturing outside their area of expertise and demonstrate big-picture thinking. Knowing how to share ideas with co-workers and when to ask for help are important skills required to succeed in any work environment. While it may be intimidating at first to refine this interpersonal skill, you should seek out opportunities to work in a group toward a common goal. Volunteering for group projects, joining a club or participating in sports are great ways to practice being a team player.
The way you relate to others may help set you apart from the other candidates during your next interview. And developing your interpersonal skills makes it easier to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds and build lasting relationships.
Source: opencolleges.edu.au
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