People – I work well with people

Introduction

In life and in work, it is essential to work well with people. This skill is also highly sought after.  We must interact with people in our personal lives and also engage with clients, colleagues, managers, and others in the workplace. This not only helps us achieve our collective goals, but also creates an enjoyable and harmonious environment and life for everyone.

South Africa is "a melting pot of cultures". We are known throughout the world for our diverse population. Being able to work well with others requires that we master skills which allow us to be able to converse well, be active listeners and collaborate with others. For teamwork to be successful, team members, need to be honest and reliable. They must also be accepting and tolerant of diversity and culture. Practice Ubuntu. Strive to be amongst others – you are of the people, they are of you. 

Benefits of people skills 

1. Teamwork helps yourself and others to achieve collective goals. 

2. You are able to calm people down when they are out of control. 

3. You are able to build other people up and support them.

Skill example

My community group were arguing between themselves about a social event that had not gone according to plan. When the debate slowed down, I reminded the group about the great things we had already achieved together and that our teamwork was what made this possible. I then asked the group to recall some of the occasions that had been a great success and stated that I was proud to be part of the team.

Tracy's story

Tracy recently graduated as a Civil Engineer. As part of her experiential learning, Tracy and her classmates needed to join a construction company. The duration of experiential learning was twelve weeks. Tracy had a set of learning outcomes, and the construction company had to ensure that all graduates followed the rollout. 

She was required to do some bricklaying on-site as part of the lesson. Tracy was most unimpressed. She did not want to get her hands dirty and thought such work had no value towards her 'higher' position. Tracy refused to carry on with the bricklaying lesson and mentioned that she did not work hard on a four-year degree to do menial work.

Management was understanding and gave Tracy some office work to tide her down for the duration. Tracy enjoyed this as she worked well, alone in a quiet office. When the construction company recruited graduates for the graduate programme, Tracy was the only person from her class who was not appointed by the company. Tracy realised that her refusal to work as a team player and her disrespect for others held her in poor stead with the company.

How to grow your people skills

Growing your people skills is important for building strong relationships and communicating effectively with others. Here are some tips to help you improve your people skills:

1. Practice active listening: Active listening involves fully engaging in conversations and paying close attention to the speaker. This includes maintaining eye contact, asking clarifying questions, and summarising what the speaker has said to ensure understanding.
2. Develop empathy: Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others. This can help you build stronger connections with people and communicate more effectively. Practice putting yourself in other people's shoes and seeing situations from their perspective.
3. Practice effective communication: Effective communication involves being clear and concise in your message, using appropriate tone and body language, and considering the needs and feelings of the other person.
4. Learn to give and receive feedback: Giving and receiving feedback is an important part of building stronger relationships and improving performance. Practice giving feedback in a constructive and respectful manner, and be open to receiving feedback from others.
5. Develop conflict resolution skills: Conflict is a natural part of relationships, but learning to resolve conflicts effectively can help build stronger relationships. Practice active listening, reframing, and finding common ground to resolve conflicts.
6. Practice teamwork: Collaboration and teamwork are important skills in many settings. Practice working with others towards a common goal, being open to new ideas and perspectives, and providing support and feedback to others.
7. Practice networking: Networking involves building relationships and connecting with others in your industry or field. Attend industry events, join professional organisations, and reach out to others in your field to expand your network.

Remember that growing your people skills is an ongoing process that requires practice and dedication. By practicing active listening, developing empathy, practicing effective communication, learning to give and receive feedback, developing conflict resolution skills, practicing teamwork, and practicing networking, you can improve your people skills and build stronger relationships with others.