Improve people skills

BUSINESSES, economies, families and even the world look better when there is effective and constructive human interaction.

Wherever there are people, there is need for communication to get things done. Effective and successful organisations worldwide have strong people skills.

Their communication levels are not only good but impactful. You need to consider the people skills imperative.

What are people skills?

People or interpersonal skills are defined as skills used to communicate and interact with others effectively. They include attentive and active listening; being tolerant, both at personal and business level; and also, the ability to mediate conflicts.

Emotional intelligence is one other important aspect that assists people in connecting with others.

For a business to tick internally and externally, it means deployment and employment of people skills.

A business has many stakeholders that need to be engaged continuously.

There are a number of people skills that are integral to succeed at personal and business levels.

Ability to relate to others

If you cannot relate well with others, it will be difficult to run your own life; more so, a sustainable business.

Good people skills do not mean you have to agree with almost everyone everywhere. You have to develop the skill of convincing others on issues of mutual interest and agree to disagree amicably on issues that you hold a different opinion.

Business is all about communicating effectively about your products and services in a way that will make the public fall in love with your offerings.

To achieve this, strong people skills are required, especially the ability to persuade and convince others.

Strong communication skills

This is the most essential people skill, as it encompasses your persona and ability to get along with colleagues, including persuading others to listen to your ideas. Effective communication, both written and oral, can be learnt.

Tolerance

Tolerance is a very strong attribute in the people skills matrix. You need to know and study people’s characters. You need to have an appreciation of this important fact and see how best you can accommodate them.

Active listening skills

There is a difference between hearing someone speaking and actively listening to them.

Most people have a tendency of hearing someone speak and respond before that person finishes talking. Others even start responding before the other person finishes talking. The key is to actively listen, which takes more time but produces better results.

It means you listen without interruption, and then take time to think and form a response before replying. It takes practice, but it pays off. There is a saying that goes: “Listen twice as much as you speak”.

That is why we have two ears and one mouth. We must not just listen, but listen attentively.

Be genuinely interested

in others

People know when you are truly interested in them and their business. In some instances, knowing the name of your regular customers shows that you are concerned. You have to greet people by name. Know your customers and show that you are interested and care for them.

Negotiation skills

Most sales are a result of successful negotiations with clients.

This skill is important for it also applies to our other stakeholders. All these acts and processes call for strong negotiation skills, which are an essential part of people skills businesses should invest in and improve on, as they seek relevance within their markets.

Body language

The significance of body language cannot be overemphasised, as it makes up the majority of how we communicate with others. The reality is, we communicate more when we are not speaking. Mood swings, positions, facial expressions and the use of hands can mean a lot in communication.

Failure to understand body language in business is choosing to fail.

Conclusion

Business is all about effective communication. That is the only way we can market and relate to others within and outside the organisation to get the business going. This is an area every organisation that plans to succeed should invest time and resources in.