What are People Skills and Why are They Important?
People skills are defined as the ability to communicate effectively with people in a friendly way, especially in business. They are also known as interpersonal skills. If you know somebody who makes friends with anyone they meet chances are they have great people skills. Being able to relate to others and create rapport with them is a very valuable thing, and those with good people skills usually go very far in life, as they’re able to network and make connections which can lead to lots of opportunities. Good communication skills tie in with interpersonal skills, along with other things like confidence. People skills are about listening to others and being genuinely interested in who they are and what they have to say.
It’s important to be strong in this area as you will be interacting with others no matter what job you do. From colleagues to customers to clients, there’s no escaping this fact, so it’s good to have some practice in communicating. Especially for customer facing roles you’ll probably be speaking to members of the public every day you’re at work. Having excellent people skills will make your job easier, as well as bringing a lot to the company who will really value you for it.
Developing and Demonstrating People Skills
Having good people skills is all about communication, so developing your communication skills will naturally enhance your people skills too. Listening is an important and often overlooked part of this. Building rapport comes from making the other person feel valued and like you are genuinely interested in them.
Try joining a club or going to an event where there will be some people you don’t know. Strike up a conversation with someone and make a point to listen really carefully to what they say. Often we listen just to wait for our turn to speak, which means we’re not really engaged in the conversation. If you make an effort to really listen to what someone has to they they’ll pick up on it. Another idea is to observe how others interact. Go to a coffee shop, get a drink and just sit people watching for an hour or two. Talking with your friends and family is good practice, as you’re probably already comfortable with them so you can ask for honest feedback and advice.
People skills, like teamwork skills are best demonstrated in a real world scenario. Your interview is a great chance to show these skills off. Listen intently to what the interviewer/s say, ask a few questions, and try to find something in common to talk about. It could be as small as complimenting their glasses if you both wear them. Don’t be insincere, but a genuine compliment or noticing the small details will make them warm to you instantly. Above all remember to be yourself, your natural friendliness will shine through.
You demonstrate people skills in any situation with other people. As obvious as it sounds you may not realise things like settling an argument between your friends, or going on a trip to another country all require people skills. Have you ever hosted a party or event? To ensure everyone has a good time and feels welcome you need good interpersonal skills. You can talk about things like this in an interview. Is there a time you made someone’s day or connected with somebody at an event? Always remember to use the STARRS method for giving examples in an interview.
Some further reading on developing your people skills:
The 20 People Skills You Need To Succeed At Work
What are Interpersonal Skills? (and a test!)
