Interpersonal Skills Training

What Are Interpersonal Skills?

Strong interpersonal skills are essential for succeeding in today’s workplace. Sometimes referred to as soft skills, emotional intelligence skills, people skills, or even employability skills, interpersonal skills are related to the way we communicate and interact with others. 

Interpersonal skills are one of the top criteria used for evaluating candidates at job interviews across all industries, and most managers will not hire someone without them. That’s because it’s important to be able to get along well with co-workers, managers, customers, and vendors, regardless of the type of job.

Examples of Interpersonal Skills

The list of interpersonal skills is long because it encompasses any skill required to successfully communicate or interact with people. Some of the most common are:

• Communication
• Conflict Management
• Empathy
• Leadership
• Listening
• Negotiation
• Positive Attitude
• Teamwork

What Will You Learn in an Interpersonal Skills Training Course?

Interpersonal skills encompass such a broad variety of topics, it can be helpful to know which specific interpersonal skill(s) you would like to strengthen before searching for a training programme. 

Most programmes are delivered in classroom settings to allow delegates to practise their communication skills. Courses tend to focus on a range of interpersonal skills with the goal of teaching delegates how to achieve effective interpersonal communication at different levels of an organisation.

For example, one interpersonal skills course could cover the difference between hearing and listening, how to communicate non-verbally, how to remember names, and how to make an impactful first impression. These are extremely useful skills in the workplace, at a networking event, or in your job search, and a training course can help you practice these skills in a risk-free setting.

How to Demonstrate Interpersonal Skills in a Job Interview

While you may not receive a certification or qualification in interpersonal skills, you can mention what you learn in your interpersonal skills training course on your cover letter or in your job interview. 

Demonstrate when you acted as a leader of a project or assignment with anecdotal evidence, or discuss a real-life situation where your positive attitude turned an otherwise negative experience into a positive one. Most employers will not consider an applicant who lacks interpersonal skills, so it’s important to assure them from your first contact that you’re prepared to communicate and interact positively with your coworkers or clients.