Transcript Interpersonal Skills

MDP – Powerful Business Communication &
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal Skills
 Interpersonal skills are the skills that a person uses
to interact with other people.
 Interpersonal skills are sometimes also referred to as
people skills or communication skills.
 Interpersonal skills involve using skills such as active
listening and tone of voice, they include delegation
and leadership.
 It is how well you communicate with someone and
how well you behave or carry yourself. Also they help
people further their careers.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
2
Interpersonal Skills
 Interpersonal skills refers to mental and
communicative techniques applied during
social communications and interaction to reach
certain effects or results.
 The term "interpersonal skills" is used often in
business contexts to refer to the measure of a person's
ability to operate within business organizations
through social communication and interactions.
 Interpersonal skills are how people relate to one
another.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
3
An Example
 To interrupt someone who is currently preoccupied with the task
of obtaining information needed immediately, it is
recommended that a professional use a deferential approach
with language such as, "Excuse me, are you busy? I have an
urgent matter to discuss with you if you have the time at the
moment."
 This allows the receiving professional to make their own
judgment regarding the importance of their current task versus
entering into a discussion with their colleague.
 While it is generally understood that interrupting someone with
an "urgent" request will often take priority, allowing the receiver
of the message to judge independently the request and agree to
further interaction will likely result in a higher quality
interaction.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
4
Benefits
 Following the rules of good behavior to achieve better
professional results generally results in a professional being
ranked as one with 'good interpersonal skills.‘
 Having positive interpersonal skills increases the
productivity in the organization since the number of
conflicts is reduced.
 In informal situations, it allows communication to be easy
and comfortable.
 People with good interpersonal skills can generally control
the feelings that emerge in difficult situations and respond
appropriately, instead of being overwhelmed by emotion.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
5
Improving Interpersonal Skills
 Think positively, and enter the mindset to work well
with others and maintain good relationships.
 Do not criticise others or yourself.
 Be patient.
 Learn to listen, experts recommend listening 80% of
the time and only talking 20%.
 Be sensitive to others, this includes not gossiping.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
6
Improving Interpersonal Skills
 Have a sense of humor appropriate to your situation.
Many people benefit from a good joke.
 Treat others and their experience with respect.
 Praise and compliment people when they deserve it.
 When someone is telling a story, don’t interrupt or try
to upstage them with a story of your own.
 Smile – even when you don’t feel like smiling.
 Be cheerful and try to make others smile.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
7
Improving Communication Skills
 Look for solutions.
 When someone compliments you, don’t disagree or
boast about it – simply say thank-you with a smile and
move on.
 Don’t complain.
 When you’re unhappy, try your best to act happy
anyway. You will end up feeling better and so will the
people around you, your mood is contagious.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
8
Improving Interpersonal Skills
 Fake it ‘till you make it. If you’re not naturally
confident or happy, fake it until you generally possess
the desired characteristics.
 Learn to appreciate, be helpful and not de-motivate
your team members. Work as a team, not as an
individual. This will achieve better results.
 Treat your team members and colleagues as friends
and not as strangers or subordinates.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
9
Improving Interpersonal Skills
 Behavior psychology: Deal with people as though they
are your client or boss and convey the message you
want in a proper manner. (This includes rhythm of
voice to make them comfortable with you.)
 Beatrice Vincent once said, “The people with whom
you work reflect your own attitude. If you are
suspicious, unfriendly and condescending, you will
find these unlovely traits echoed all about you. But if
you are on your best behavior, you will bring out the
best in the persons with whom you are going to spend
most of your working hours.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
10
Communication
• Interpersonal communication skills are the vehicle by
which all interactions between you and other people are
made clear.
• Much of the communication that occurs between people
is one-way, without either party truly hearing the other
or accurately understanding what was said.
• The way we view the world, or the windows through
which we see the world, can either help or hinder our
communication with others.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
11
First Impressions
When you see someone for the first time you try to
determine the following from the persons appearance:
• Income
• Education Level
• Social Position
• Sophistication
• Success
• Moral Character
• Trustworthiness
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
12
Connecting with people
• Talk to people about the things they are interested in.
• Try to see things from their point of view.
• Genuinely like people.
• Smile
• Make them feel important. Use their name.
• Don’t criticize others.
• Help them see what’s in it for them if they do what you
ask them to do.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
13
People Skills
 People make an organization.
 Effective people skills are the key to change & growth.
 People have to be managed within the organization
and beyond it.
 You have to deal with people who govern and control
the environment in which you run your business.
24/02/2011
MDP - Powerful Business Communication
14