Interpersonal skill is to interact with people through effective communication. It is vital for students to attach with people and helps with their personality development too. Students learn interpersonal skills at school with their teachers and classmates. However, there are students who lack interpersonal skills whether they are introverts or extroverts.
Types and the importance of Interpersonal Skills
LISTENING
Listening skill is a key element for effective communication. An efficient listener can receive the messages and interpret them precisely. Students need to pay proper attention to the class. If students are listening attentively during lectures then they will be able to raise doubts and ask their teachers.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication fosters the course of socialization by facilitating new friendships and these, in turn, help the learning process. So, students speak with their teachers in order to express themselves.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
It plays a vital part in human interaction. This refers to tone, gestures, postures, signs, facial expressions and body language that can transfer the people’s attitudes and feelings to others and non–verbal communication is more effective than verbal messages.
TEAMWORK
Teamwork is necessary for students to achieve well–formed education and to learn the important skills of compromise and collaboration. Students can take part in group activities and work towards a common goal.
CREATIVITY
During their schooling, students are expected to work on assignments, projects and also take part in competitions outside school, so that students have to thrive in their creativity to prosper at all levels.
EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
Students need to learn to understand the feelings of others, whether it is their teachers, parents, classmates, and friends, empathy or being compassionate helps them put up a good relationship and the students get support from other people whenever they face difficulty or they need help.
SOCIAL/ PERSUASIVE
It refers to the availability of a person to their friends; family and the people he is familiar with since it assists them to develop his personality as well as trust in his relationships.
LEADERSHIP
Leadership quality makes a student accept the challenges, solve problems and analyze his career direction. To nurture this quality, students can take part and perform in group activities confidently, and also direct their team members towards the accomplishment of their goals.
PATIENCE
Lack of patience makes students quit their studies easily. So, it is very essential for every student to learn patience to keep track of their goals.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
It is essential for students getting involved in public speaking and this skill can be developed by participating in various activities like debates, group discussions, recitation, and presentations. It advances their confidence and facilitates them in connecting with people.
Guidelines for developing interpersonal skills
NURTURE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
A student has to be optimistic by reminding himself of the good things about life and their work. If he gets upset about a personal issue, then he should be able to calm himself and start looking for the positivity in the situation and try to build on that.
ORGANIZE THE EMOTIONS
Organizing the emotions refers that a student should try to express his feelings in a calm and composed manner. A school is not a place to be excessively emotional. When a student is really annoyed, depressed or extremely happy, it will be good if he makes an effort to tone his emotions down. However, we recommend students to talk to their Proctors and Counselors at the school or college.
RECOGNIZE OTHERS’ CAPABILITY
Try to find good traits in others and appreciate. Ask for other students’ help on projects and give credit when and where the credit is due.
BE ASSERTIVE
Being assertive denotes that the way a person expresses effectively and stands up for his views without violating others’ beliefs and rights. It is very important for a student. He has to show confidence in his ability and his views. He need not hesitate to express his requirements and limits.
Interpersonal skills not only help the students in their education or school life but all the way through their career also. As students build up their interpersonal skills during school, it turns into a part of their behavior and helps them work together with people from different regions. During job interviews, employers consider interpersonal skills as a significant aspect of selecting a candidate. So, interpersonal skills enhance the fair chances of employability and a successful career.