What Are Interpersonal Skills?
Interpersonal skills are the skills a person needs to work effectively with others. In today’s collaborative workplaces, they are more critical than ever. Here are some examples.
Teamwork
Most jobs require working on a team in some capacity. People skilled in teamwork are willing to listen to others while also unafraid to contribute their ideas. They can be counted on to complete tasks assigned to them and are flexible enough to take on different roles in the team if required. They realize that while their contributions are valuable, their ultimate goal should be to work with their team to accomplish their task to the best of their ability, even if that means compromising and being flexible.
Leadership
Good leaders are not just skilled and knowledgeable but also treat their teams with respect. They are passionate, accountable, optimistic, and empathetic. They know that happy team members work better, so they make sure to listen to the concerns of their team and be flexible when possible while still providing a clear vision for the team to follow and being firm when it comes to making sure everyone is pulling their weight.
Listening
It can be easy to get carried away with our ideas and plans, but we have to remember that other people usually work with us. Listening means considering the point of view of others and being prepared to modify your original approach to achieve the best possible finished product or solution. Being a good listener shows that you care about the opinions of others, which will increase their respect for you and make it more likely that they will listen to you too.
Conflict Resolution
This is one of the trickiest but most valuable interpersonal skills. Almost inevitably, the conflict will arise in the workplace. It would help if you met it with a level head and an open mind when it does. Sometimes you will be part of the conflict, and sometimes, you will be mediating between two or more opposing parties. You must maintain courteousness and avoid making anyone feel unheard or undervalued as you search for the ideal resolution.
Positive Attitude
This one is simple. No one wants to work with someone who has a sour or aggressive attitude. Simply being polite, encouraging, and looking on the bright side of situations can make you a pleasure to work with. People will like you better, and you’ll probably find that you like yourself better too. While this is included under interpersonal skills, the increase in mental well-being that comes from having a positive attitude can also make it an intrapersonal skill.
What Are Intrapersonal Skills?
Intrapersonal means “within yourself,” so it makes sense that interpersonal skills are based on self-awareness. When you know yourself, you’re better able to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and work to improve your skills and thought processes. Here are some examples.
Resourcefulness
Resourcefulness is the ability to do your best in less than ideal circumstances. Resourceful people can look at what they have on hand, even if it’s not exactly what they would like to have, and come up with new ways to achieve their goals. They have confidence in themselves, a creative thought process, and the determination to tackle daunting tasks and try again when faced with failure.
Time Management
Other people can set deadlines and dish out consequences, but ultimately, you are in charge of your own time. Only you can make yourself work productively. It would help if you cultivated the ability to judge how long a task will take you and find ways to fit tasks efficiently into your busy schedule. Procrastination can kill your productivity, so you must find the determination to tackle assignments on time, even if they seem undesirable or daunting.
Adaptability
You never know when plans might change within the workplace. If you cannot adapt to changes like an increased workload, different coworkers, or new tasks in areas you aren’t as familiar with, you can struggle in these situations. This can lead to you wasting time being stressed out and upset about the changes when this time would be better spent forging ahead in the new circumstances.
Resilience
Resilience is the ability to push through obstacles and get back up again when you suffer a setback. Resilient people don’t let failure or difficulties discourage them; instead, they learn from them and try again. If you’re able to make it through tough times, you will often find that there is a reward for you on the other side.
Self-Esteem
People with high self-esteem have a realistic but optimistic view of their capabilities, respect themselves, and know the importance of caring for their own mental and physical health. They don’t let self-doubt and fear of failure hold them back, and they don’t waste time and energy beating themselves up over things they should have done better. Instead, they forge ahead with a level-headed idea of their chances of success and the knowledge that they can learn from their mistakes and work to improve the situation if things go wrong.
What Are the Similarities Between Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills?
Both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills are essential to success in most modern workplaces. It is natural to be stronger in one than in the other, but those who desire success would be wise to cultivate both.
The Difference Between Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills?
Interpersonal skills always involve other people, whereas intrapersonal skills are only about your relationship with yourself. You will tend to use interpersonal skills when you wish to communicate ideas to others and collaborate on a task. Intrapersonal skills come into play when you set goals and make plans for yourself or seek to understand your feelings to process them.
Conclusion
Both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills are an absolute must to have if you want to succeed in your workplace. Even if you don’t naturally possess these skills, you can cultivate them within yourself through practice and diligence.
