In our fast-paced, global world, we are more frequently interacting with individuals fromdiverse cultural and racial
backgrounds. In order to get along well with others in both our personal and work relationships, we often need to fine
tune our people skills. People skills can be thought of as emotional intelligence, with six specific skills.
1) Enhance others' self-esteem - behaviors that contribute to this skill include:
a) make eye contact with others
b) call others by their name
c) ask others their opinion
d) compliment others' work
e) tell individuals how much you appreciate them
f) make others feel welcome when they come into your home or workplace
g) pay attention to what is going on in others' lives
h) share people's excitement when they accomplish something
i) take responsibility for the quality of your communication
2) Show empathy for others - empathy means recognizing emotions in others and having the capacity to put yourself
in another's shoes and view their reality and how they feel about things.
3) Encourage individuals to cooperate with each other - whether you are a group leader or a group participant, there
are particular behaviors that will facilitate individuals working well together.
a) don't play favorites- treat everyone the same, otherwise people won't trust you.
b) don't talk about people behind their back
c) ask for others' ideas and opinions. Participation increases commitment and
cooperation.
d) check for understanding when you make a statement or announcement.
4) Communicate assertively - assertive communication is a learned skill and enables you to:
a) act in your own best interests
b) stand up for yourself without becoming anxious
c) express your honest feelings
d) assert your personal rights without denying the rights of others
5) Ask productive questions and demonstrate listening skills - listening skills help you show that you are not only
hearing but understanding another person and are interested in what he or she has to say.
6) Respond productively to emotional statements - active listening is vital to being able to respond to another's
emotional statements. With active listening, you are demonstrating that you understand what the other person is
saying and how he or she is feeling about the topic. Actively listening is not the same as agreement. It is a way of
demonstrating that you are willing to hear and understand another's
point of view.
The ability to get along well with others in our personal and work relationships requires a set of learned skills.
However, these people skills can be improved upon with practice.
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Note: This article is for informational purposes only. If you are in need of mental health services, please contact a provider in your community. © 2008 Family Recovery Resources All Rights Reserved |
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