The Importance of Interpersonal Skills

When considering interpersonal skills it is worth noting that they are not readily learned. My first impulse as a life coach, after years of mentoring and teaching others how to improve themselves, is to say that they are impossible to learn. That might be a bit harsh and fatalistic, so maybe we should tone down the statement to say they are, to say the least, difficult to learn. As a human being your greatest skill is not your education, erudition, etc., but that wonderful innate sense within you that allows you to act and say just the right thing, no more and no less. That is the beginning of the drive to develop a talent which will put you in good stead with employers, friends, new acquaintances, and yes even your life mate.

Introduction

So, how are interpersonal skills defined? They encompass the ability to work well with people, and involve your acceptance of others, without prejudice. This does not always mean that you like the person, but you are able to overcome your dislike in order to achieve your tasks. Consider with me several abilities that will improve your job performance.

Personality that matches your job requirements

For the most part, our personalities are what they are. While it is possible to tweak and change things, you should never seek a job in which you are forced to be someone you are not. For instance, if you are not an outgoing person, you should not seek a job in customer service or sales. These positions require that you interact and be proactive in meeting and talking to people. As a business owner, you should be very careful who the first contact is with your customers. Many people do not have the personality to be a receptionist or lead person and can drive away business.

Take a personal inventory to determine your fit

You will never be more miserable than when you are in a job that is a poor fit. Sometimes a promotion will spell disaster for your career path. Managers are well meaning in their desire to promote a good employee, and you certainly may need the increase in income, but many times if a promotion requires new skills for which you are not prepared, a promotion can be a career ending move. Never compromise on this principle. Never accept a new position if the skills you will need are not something you can learn easily.

Practice teamwork and collaborative decision making

Today’s work environment is a different world than in the past. Employers do not look for employees who work alone. They seek team members who arrive at decisions based on a collaborative effort of the entire group. Team work requires an entire set of skills that differ from those required in the past. Being able to work with others to achieve team goals can be learned with experience. Teams move through stages of development and participants who are open to change and assimilation can acquire the skills necessary to work well with the group.

Remember there is no “I” in the word “team.” Teamwork is not about you and your ideas. It is about taking everyone’s ideas and thoughts and developing a workable solution. The final solution is not completely the idea of any one person.

Communication skills are your lifeline

Most have suffered to pain of working for someone for whom communications are not their strong points. Sharing important information is definitely important for the smooth operation of any business. While verbal communications are not always necessary, email and post-it notes are an easy way to pass information to others. If you are a gate keeper for a superior, it is important to determine how he/she likes to be kept in the loop. Never assume anything and never put yourself in a position of knowing something and failing to share it with those who need to know.

Always double check emails and other written communications are crisp, professional, and to the point. Set up your email to double check spelling. Nothing gives a worse impression that an email with misspelled words.

Listening more than you speak is a good place to start with developing interpersonal skills. No one appreciates a person who talks non-stop.

Develop an attitude of appreciation and thankfulness

An old saying fits well at this point. “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.” Learn to appreciate others and show gratitude. When the team succeeds, you succeed as a group. When the team fails, you share the blame.

An attitude of gratitude is a personal skill that can be learned. Saying thank you and please are easy statements to make and pay off in great dividends.

Conclusion

Interpersonal skills that match the requirements of your job are essential to upward mobility in your career. Since some skills cannot be learned, it is well worth evaluating your skill sets in light of a promotional or career change opportunity to determine if you are a good fit. Sometimes a refusal can do more for your future than jumping into a situation that may torpedo your career.

 

Garage Organization: Utilizing Garage Space for Storage and Hobbies

One of the most underused spaces in the home is the garage. In fact, it is also the least organized, and if you are like most, the garage is the one area every one avoids. Are you ashamed to open the garage door? How long ago did you abandon putting your car inside because it no longer fit, with all the junk that is thrown there?

In the New Year why not make it your goal to clean and organize your garage into a useable work and storage space? Not only will you reclaim some great space, but a clean and well organized space will help your psyche.

To start, you need to separate the clutter into piles. Donate, have a yard sale, or toss everything you do not need, or will ever use. This might sound simple, but getting rid of unneeded or unwanted items is a difficult task. We form attachments to “stuff” and these days most families rent storage units for this “stuff” and pay rentals to hold on to it. Get a grip! Turn lose!  Try holding two yard sales per year in which you get rid of anything you have not used in the past six months. Use the money to buy organizational units for the garage.

Once you have separated everything in the garage, toss the throw away pile, donate and yard sell everything else you want to get rid of, and you should be reduced to a manageable amount of “stuff.” From looking at what is left you can determine the kind of organizational units to purchase. You might need drawer space, a lockable cabinet for chemicals, paints, and varnishes, plastic tub storage, etc. Do not purchase a storage layout before sorting because you have no idea what you will need and may purchase things that are not suited for your needs.

Another major decision to be made prior to purchase is what kind of work areas you will need, and what kind of counter tops are appropriate for those areas. For instance, if you want to use garage space for a hobby area, you might want a sink area or solid surface counters. If your husband enjoys woodworking, he might need a wooden counter top. Figure out where these areas will be located and roughly sketch out how the area should look. As in organizing a kitchen, imagine yourself standing at the work area and think about placement of things you will use. If you are a leftie, you might want drawers on the left, or vice-versa, if you are right handed. Thinking through this process will certainly make the space more user-friendly.

 Storage using plastic tubs is a great use of space. Select see-thru tubs to easily determine contents. These are ideal for storing decorations, crafts, toys, and a million other possibilities, all organized and at your finger tips.

Before installing the new storage area, you might want to patch and paint the walls. Earth-tones are always in vogue. Coordinate the cabinet and counter top colors to the walls. The floor is another option. You can always paint it with high-traffic paint, or purchase the new interlocking floors made especially for the garage. These clean up easily and are stain resistant.

You will be amazed at how handy the new garage space will be, and the items stored will open up more space in the attic and closets. Start off the New Year with a new look, which will give you a psychological pick up as well.