People skills are important. Believe it or not, the grades you got in school and technical skills are not really what bosses are looking for in business. Sadly, most of the time schools tell their students to spend a lot of time concentrating on their studies, and they don't teach the importance of soft skills like communication. Social skills are usually not taught at all. So students put their effort into grades and their skills are unbalanced. Promotions are usually given to those with social skills. Quality of interpersonal skills is one of the reasons employees are promoted to higher positions and as people move up the ladder people skills become even more important. It's never too late to improve your interpersonal skills by reading books, or going to seminars and workshops. Here are some more tips to improve your people skills:
1. Be a good listener. Not only listen to people to be polite, but respect their opinions and give them constructive feedback.
2. Smile and say hello. We all feel more comfortable when around those who are friendly.
3. Involve others. Don't try to do everything on your own. Collaborating with others will let them feel more accomplished and will help them see the value in working as a team.
4. Spend time with colleagues. Join the bowling league or softball team. Spending time with each other outside of work can help boost the feelings of friendliness with others.
5. Pay attention to body language. Making eye contact, smiling, standing up straight, leaning toward the person one is speaking to, and keeping the body open are ways to make one feel more comfortable around you.
6. Be a positive and cheerful person. Develop a positive mental attitude. People are comfortable being around people who are easygoing, friendly, patient, and open minded.
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