What Interpersonal Skills Are
The skills we use to deal with other people, why they matter in every job, and why they can be learned.
8 min
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Most work is done with other people. An engineer agrees a design with a client. A storekeeper explains a missing part to a technician. An accountant asks a manager for a late invoice. In each case the result depends on two things: the technical skill, and the way the people deal with each other.
Interpersonal skills are the skills we use when we communicate and work with other people. Some people call them "people skills" or "soft skills". The word "soft" is misleading. These skills decide whether a request is understood, whether a problem is reported early, and whether a colleague wants to help you again.
The main interpersonal skills
Why they matter at work
- Fewer mistakes. Many errors at work start as a misunderstanding: the wrong part ordered, the wrong date agreed, the wrong file sent.
- Faster work. When you understand a request the first time, you do not do the job twice.
- Better information. People tell more to someone who listens well. You hear about problems while they are still small.
- Better relationships. Colleagues and customers return to people who make them feel heard.
Which statement about interpersonal skills is most accurate?