The difference between a good employee and an excellent one lies in the level of his or her interpersonal skills, says Pallavi Prakash
Communication is the vehicle of expression. Our behaviour is a mirror which reflects our personality effectively. Now the million dollar question is: Are there any factors which rule our behaviour and what are these factors calledIJ Yes, there are a set of self-created rules which guide our personal and professional behaviour. These are interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills are communication and behavioural based tools that we use to effectively interact with others. In simple terms, interpersonal skills are the way we get along with people. These skills can make or break our professional interactions and eventually your career.
Interpersonal skills make the difference between a good employee and a great employee, a team member and a team leader. While other parts of our professional profile are also important, interpersonal skills give us an extra edge, showing employers that even if we may not be the most experienced candidate, we can bridge the gap with stellar communication.
In today’s highly competitive world, good interpersonal skills are the strong benchmark which makes us stand apart from the crowd and make us highly successful in career. Self-awareness is the weapon of the next generation careerists, the awakened ones win the race. It’s about having the emotional intelligence (EQ) and understanding how our internal reality (values, beliefs and thoughts) can influence our external reality (actions and reactions from others). The connection is crystal clear. For a successful career, good interpersonal skills are a pre-requisite. let’s focus on ways of improving them which can move us towards highest altar of our career.
Develop positive attitude: This is one component, which can display a whole lot of maturity in our talks. It is also stated that if we display a positive attitude during work, then we are showing respect for our work and the organisation as a whole. This leads to our good professional rapport and eventually brings us nearer to our next level of promotion.
Practice active listening: Whenever there is a conversation, a particularly work-related or instructional one, be mindful of what the other person is saying. Repeat what they say in your own words to ensure you understand. By showing them we are actively listening, we tend to foster a better working relationship followed by greater chances of success in career.
Be appreciative: It feels great when someone appreciates us for our work, isn't itIJ We must practice to give the same feeling of gratification to our co-workers by appreciating their work. When people know they are appreciated, they are motivated to keep up the good work. This, in turn, elevates our professional image bringing us closer to a successful career.
Smile and use positive body language: Positive body language is indispensible tool for professional success. Taking pride in our appearance is the first step. Practice standing in a welcoming way and other non-verbal communication skills. Most of all, smile when interacting with others. Start practicing now.
Master good communication skills: Effective communication is absolute necessity for upgrading our productivity at work. If we learn the art of communication properly, then we are avoiding the conflicts, expressing our ideas more transparently, showing empathy to others and eventually increasing our professional worth. Be it verbal or non-verbal communication, both the communications are important. So, brush up your grammar, vocabulary and diction without any delay. Also keep in place non-verbal communications like: Proper eye contact, intonation/rhythm of voice, dressing sense and posture.
Start taking responsibilities: An accountable employee is appreciated by one and all. A person who takes the charge, delegates and completes the task with ease is a successful person in professional arena. learn to be more responsible and pro-active in taking accountability of a task.
Initially, we might have inhibitions due to our shortcomings but trust me if we make it a habit; we will develop a natural leader within us and succeed in career to a much higher degree.
Hence, these skills are vital in deciding one's career graph. Therefore, developing these skills and improving them is a must if we want to be a highly successful in our career and be a natural leader in near future.
— The writer is an author anda motivational speaker