Professional & Management – Page 74 – STL

Interpersonal skills are ranked highly by managers. On a scale of 1 to 5, they come in at 4.37. The figure is very high as it comes in second on the list essential skills, beaten only by being able to work in a team. Carry on reading to find out why they are popular.

Why Are Interpersonal Skills So In Demand?

Due to the rise of technology, it’s tempting to assume that soft skills, such as the ability to communicate face-to-face, might be on the decline. After all, there is no need to talk in person when you can send an email or a message via an instant messenger platform. However, the reverse is true – communication skills are more vital than ever before. So, what’s behind the shift?

Technology

If anything, technology has made the need to connect with people in the workplace more vital because it’s dragged people further apart. We are only beginning to understand the negative impact of screen time on our relationships, and we’re now trying to make amends. Being able to use soft skills examples to relate to colleagues in the office and connect makes the workplace a less lonely place.

The Demands Of Modern Jobs

Modern businesses place more responsibility on the shoulders of their workers. Nowadays, employees can expect to work a full 3,000 plus days at their desk. And, there’s more – the average person will work almost 200 extra hours as a result of overtime. Then, there is the fact that remote work is feasible, so people are expected to do more from home. All this means you must have mental resilience if you can relate and connect to people.

Increased Collaboration

We mentioned how the ability to work in a team is the number one feature managers look for in recruits, and it impacts interpersonal skills too. Today, workers have to collaborate or risk ruining projects and getting fired. Being able to communicate, even if you don’t like a person, is vital in the course of doing your job effectively in 2020.

Woman Talking to Man about Interpersonal Skills

Standing Out From The Crowd

All of the above assumes you have a job, but what if you’re unemployed? Or what if you want to change professions and try something new? To secure a better position, you must interview well, and that’s where interpersonal skills come in handy. Modern recruiters look past a person’s CV and focus on their character, and they do it because hiring correctly is essential. Otherwise, it’s a waste of resources. Candidates who come across as charming and personable are more likely to get the job if there are multiple applicants for the role.

How To Enhance Your Interpersonal Skills

The key is to practise the traits that have the most significant impact in the workplace. Check out our blog post, “Ten Must-Have Soft Skills for Success.” Alternatively, we provide soft skills training to people who want to be more self-aware and ensure their body language is positive.

With our help, you can be a respectful, empathetic co-worker that others love.

Project management is a lifelong career with many different progression routes. It doesn’t come without its difficulties, but often that is what drives the success of the career. It’s a relatively easy role to walk into, once the right training and qualifications have been achieved. If you feel like you’re hard-working, excellent at problem-solving, and love understanding how things work, then this is the role for you.

If you’re not too sure how to get into project management, what the career involves, and how you can progress, the following information will be of use to you.

What Is Project Management

Project management requires you to be highly adaptable. You will work within time constraints to achieve project criteria, while also ensuring that you’re working within all the parameters set. You’ll be working alongside a group of people who will require the knowledge base that you will build over time, to execute the project as per the request of the business who has contracted you. Ensuring that you use methodical skills, knowledge, and streamlined processes to complete the project within the given timescale is essential. Time is money, and any delays can cost you, and the business contracting you a lot of money. Therefore working at a high standard, while also work efficiently, is vital. You will be accountable for the success or failure of the project, so working under pressure will become second nature to you.

Person Trying to Get Into Project Management

Typical Progression Routes

Project management is a career that will open many doors. There are multiple different, very fruitful, progression routes that people chose to go down. Naturally, one of the routes is a management consultant. As a consultant, businesses will call on you to solve issues, create value, and generally improve the running of their business. Or, you could go down the route of the head of projects. Some feel this is a more natural route to take, as the line of work is so similar to the one you’ll begin in. With project management, you will be the leader of one project and will still answer to the person above you. Being head of projects makes you that person at the top. Those are just two of the progression routes people naturally follow; here are a few more for you to consider:

Director of projects
Programme manager
Portfolio manager
Business manager

The Need For Further Training

The need for further training will always follow you with this career. As industries are growing by the day, the need for them to adapt to the global changes is vast. That adaptation that businesses and projects are taking means the strategies and methods in place will always be adjusting. Therefore, you need to adapt to them, and train to learn new skills as the years go on. Depending on what progression route you chose to take, you’ll always find yourself needing to learn something new, to progress into a new role. Not only that, but there are a ton of different courses you could take that would boost your employability and knowledge within the role. For example, first aid training, site safety, and fire safety, to name but a few. It’s always wise to make sure you’re the one with an extensive knowledge base, as you will be the one that people are coming to for answers. The more you train, the more you’re going to know.

A great place to start this journey is with our Project Management training London.

Practical and Theory Competence

Throughout your career, you will have your practical competence tested. Practical competence is your ability to perform the specified tasks that your role requires you to do so. This can be tested through management reviews, on the job monitoring. So it’s important to make sure that you’re always honing in your skills. As a project manager, it can be easy to relax into the managerial role, allowing you to sit back while others do what you say. Theory competence is the same. Your theory will be tested on every project, with the knowledge you hold being used to ensure the project is completed to the highest standard. The fact that you will be the go-to person means more extensive reading and research into the theory of project management should be done regularly.

Job Prospects

The job prospects are vast. You might start your journey by going in as a project assistant and working your way up through the ranks. As a project manager, you can expect your salary to be very attractive, and as you choose to progress through the progression routes we mentioned above, this will increase tenfold.

Category: Professional & Management

Importance of Interpersonal Skills At Work