IMPROVE YOUR

PEOPLE SKILLS

People skills in the workplace are an important ability that many do not have, unfortunately.

Workers are often thrown together with others who have alternative personalities, world views, intelligence levels, refinement levels and the like.

They are thrown together in a small building, oftentimes in one room, where they will spend an average of eight hours a day together.

Many interesting and detrimental things can happen when someone lacks workplace people skills.

Just a few of the mishaps that can occur are:

Verbal Arguments

Physical Altercations

Lingering Animosity

Code of Conduct Violations

Trust Breaches

Gossiping

Job Loss

Customer Loss

Reputation Tarnishing

Lack of workplace people skills can hurt the workers, the management staff and the business.

However, workers and businesses can do the following to help ensure that they improve workplace people skills:

1 TAKE A COURSE

One thing that an employer can offer is a special course before new employees start. People can try to find courses on their own before they start a new job, as well.

Many companies and websites offer people skills seminars, classes and courses.

Employees do not have to be in the dark when it comes to getting along with others.

People skills are available through live seminars, electronic seminars, e-books, DVDs and CDs, regular books and telephone sessions.

Sometimes employees just need to be exposed to different options and find a style that works best for them.

2 SPEAK WITH A COACH

A coach, sometimes referred to as a “mentor”, can help an employee to develop the skills necessary for that person to get along with other employees, management staff and customers.

The coach will most likely help the person remember to think before speaking and to breathe when he or she feels like the chance of an altercation may be getting close.

3 ASSESSMENTS

Employers can ensure that the those they hire are up to par by having them take skill assessments that will speak volumes about their varying personality traits.

Assessments ask prospective employees questions that can help employers to determine how they will handle certain situations beforehand.

An employer can use such assessments after he or she has hired an employee, as well.

The assessments can serve to show how the employee has progressed over the years, as well as areas that still need to be addressed.

4 DRAW THE LINE

Finally, an employee has to learn how to “draw the line” when trying to get along with other employees.

Drawing the line can be difficult, but sometimes the employee will have to take that step in order to maintain his or her sanity, for peace in the office, and when dealing with an unhappy customer.

Personalities clash at work at times because employees have different backgrounds and thus handle themselves differently in certain situations.

For example, being prompt may be important to one employee while another employee is fine with always being a few minutes late.

While being late may very well be against the workplace rules, the problem does not belong to the “prompt” employee.

The responsibility of resolving the problem belongs with the manager.

People skills development is possible if the person follows the previously mentioned tips.

Employers can help to shape employee personalities by doing their part, as well.

Are you an experienced financial advisor looking to make a change or buy a book of business? Contact the experienced financial advisor recruiters of Willis Consulting Inc.

They have many top industry contacts and can help you land the position you want. See open positions at http://www.willis-consulting.com/financial-advisor-jobs/

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