Interpersonal Skills Examples and Importance (Best 12+ Tips)

We, humans, are an inherently social species. Effective social interactions are essential for our careers, relationships, and well-being. Furthermore, meaningful social interactions help to keep our brains healthy and our cognitive skills sharp as we age. So, what are the interpersonal skills examples?

Given the importance of social interactions, it may seem strange that some people can handle any social situation easily while others struggle with even the most basic social behaviours. Differences in interpersonal skills cause these differences in how people carry themselves in social cases.

Knowing interpersonal skills is extremely useful for professional and personal life. It helps you identify key areas that you need to work on to crack job interviews, advance your career, and build strong personal relationships.

This article answers exactly what “interpersonal skills” mean, what examples of interpersonal skills you should look to cultivate, and why.

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Overview

Who invented the term “interpersonal skills”?	Michael Argyle, a social psychologist.
What is the first interpersonal skill?	Verbal and nonverbal communication.

Overview of interpersonal skills.

What Are Interpersonal Skills Examples?

So what are interpersonal skills examples?

Interpersonal communication is the exchange of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and emotions between two or more people. It includes both verbal and nonverbal aspects of interpersonal communication.

Strong interpersonal skills are a key indicator of success in the workplace. On the other hand, a lack of interpersonal skills can lead to miscommunication or misunderstandings with coworkers or management, which can escalate into more significant conflicts.

Improving your interpersonal skills can help you create a more harmonious workplace, repair any relationships interfering with your ability to work effectively, and free up time and energy to focus on your best work.

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Importance of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is a valuable “soft skill” that is required in many job descriptions. People with strong interpersonal communication skills can better express their emotions and thoughts and develop more empathy for others.

Interpersonal communication is also an essential part of being a team player or a group leader, which are qualities recruiters seek.

If you have strong interpersonal communication skills, you can clearly express your intentions and thoughts, enriching your professional and personal relationships.

Interpersonal Skills Examples

Presentations
Phone calls
Meetings
Email & Text
Sign language

Interpersonal Skills Examples - Presentations

Presentations typically include all forms of interpersonal communication. The speaker with high interpersonal skills must have strong verbal communication skills, use effective gestures and expressions, refer to written texts and other visual aids, and understand how the audience feels and receives the message. All of that contribute to their high interpersonal skills.

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Interpersonal Skills Examples - Phone calls & Texts

Yes, people still use their smartphones to communicate! We live in an age when communication via modern technology is almost mandatory. People are texting, emailing, blogging, and tweeting everywhere. It isn’t easy to go anywhere without seeing someone using a phone or the Internet to communicate with others. Can you imagine going a week without checking your Twitter, Facebook, or messages? We’d be lost.

Interpersonal Skills Examples - Meetings

A typical business professional’s day is spent in meetings. Meetings are an organisational tool that allows us to develop and share ideas verbally. The lack of interpersonal skills like meetings might limit our ability to come up with groundbreaking solutions in the workplace. Effective communication is essential to achieve a goal or run a meeting.

Interpersonal Skills Examples - Emails

One of the typical examples of interpersonal skills in the workplace is writing emails. It is a common form of interpersonal communication in today's increased online usage. Unfortunately, we cannot always communicate nuance and tone, which leads to misunderstandings. As a result, you must be proficient in written communication.

Interpersonal Skills Examples - Sign Language

Sign language is the link that binds us to the world of those who are deaf or have limited verbal ability. Many individuals in the deaf community interact using sign language, which comes in various forms. These include British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL). Different gestures with hands, fingers, arms, heads and facial expressions help the deaf and hard of hearing communicate with those around them and vice versa.

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Interpersonal Skills Examples for Communication

Also known as “soft skills,” these abilities enable you to interact effectively with others and function well as a member of society. They allow you to share information, connect, maintain relationships, and resolve conflicts. Let’s look at these skills and why they are essential in communication and other social functions.

In communication, good interpersonal skills include:

Emotional intelligence
Active Listening
Teamwork
Conflict management
Open to feedback
Positive attitude
Leadership

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is regarded as a more reliable predictor of success than IQ. Understanding how others feel and their requirements can help you motivate them. This stems from being in tune with one’s feelings and emotions, an intrapersonal skill that translates to good interpersonal skills.

2. Active Listening

Active listening is listening to others to engage with them and gather information. Failing to do so leads to serious consequences, such as misunderstanding or misinterpreting task instructions. Listening with intent is also linked to empathy.

3. Teamwork

Teamwork is an excellent example of interpersonal skills and how they are used. As in most modern workplaces, you all work toward the same goal when you're part of a team. Others rely on you just as much as you rely on them to achieve common goals and objectives.

4. Conflict Management

Conflicts are unavoidable when working with others; they are an inevitable part of the social game. However, if left unresolved, they can cause issues and impede productivity. Thus, understanding interpersonal skills requires understanding how to manage conflicts. To better manage conflicts, show empathy, negotiate, and assert your point while also looking for compromises; in short, be diplomatic.

5. Open to feedback

The most effective way to accelerate your growth is to be open to feedback. This well-known interpersonal skill will help you improve all aspects of your life, including your studies, work-life balance, and personal relationships. We don’t always know if our actions are right or wrong. In such cases, it is beneficial to be open to feedback from others to obtain confirmation and support.

6. Positive Attitude

Do you enjoy being around people who are constantly negative and complaining? I certainly do not, so developing a positive attitude is essential. A positive attitude allows one to see opportunities even in difficult situations and inspires others to reach higher and farther. So, this is true for everyone, not just those in leadership positions, where this trait is essential. A positive attitude propels us forward and allows us to form long-lasting relationships.

7. Leadership

Leadership is an essential interpersonal skill that entails making sound decisions. Influential leaders use many other interpersonal skills, such as empathy and patience, to make decisions. Managers and individual contributors can both benefit from leadership skills. Employers value people who take ownership of common goals in any role.

How to Evaluate Your Interpersonal Skills

Everything begins with self-awareness. Simply reading this article will make you more aware of your interpersonal skills in the future.

Although knowing examples of good interpersonal skills is an excellent place to start when determining what you need to work on, the best way to learn interpersonal skills is through experience and participation.

Everyone is different in terms of interpersonal skills, and much of it is related to how one’s personality handles social situations. However, much of it can be learned and integrated. We hope you now know the full extent of interpersonal skills, how they manifest, and their importance.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the definition of interpersonal skills?

Interpersonal skills are the skill sets that people use daily to communicate and connect effectively. And communication skills are the important part that can’t be lacking in interpersonal skills.

In which situation is an interpersonal skill being used?

Interpersonal skills are used in all situations, such as when you work in the workplace, negotiate with your clients, or even communicate with your family.

Tags: Job Skills