Interpersonal Communication and Cultural Competence

• Nearly every human interaction requires some level of communication, and those individuals who communicate well with others have a definite advantage. Cultural competence--or the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures--can also be an important factor in developing effective professional relationships and satisfying personal relationships. This is true whether someone is situated in an intercultural workplace or a neighborhood populated by people of different races and nationalities.
  
  

Negotiation and Persuasion

• The ability to get one's point across to other people--especially in circumstances of possible or actual conflict--is a valuable asset. True compromise where both parties both give and gain plays a major role in negotiation as well. Successful negotiation and persuasion are less about browbeating someone into giving in; they're more about convincing her of a position she may not have held initially.
  
  

Leadership and Inspiration

• Taking charge and providing guidance are also valuable people skills. Providing an example is one form of leadership; serving as a resource is another form of leadership. Additionally, providing encouragement for others can make tasks manageable which may otherwise seem difficult or even impossible. Leadership skills are also especially important in managing crisis situations.
  
  

Empathy and Identification

• The ability to put oneself in another person's shoes is also a valuable skill in relating to other people. Empathy and identification with the circumstances of others can make it easier to make sense of ideas which might otherwise be irritating and incomprehensible. This skill often goes hand-in-hand with successful negotiation. In fact, understanding another person's point of view can be the first step in persuading him toward one's own point of view.
  
  

Teaching and Instruction

• An old truism states, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This skill involves the ability to clearly present new facts and concepts in a way so that these things can eventually become comfortable and familiar. The ability to teach someone a skill--or convey information she would not have otherwise--is an extremely valuable people skill. Related to this skill is the ability to break down complex ideas into concepts which are readily understood by the average person.
  
  

Emotional Intelligence

• The phrase "emotional intelligence" was developed in 1990 by two researchers: Peter Salovey and John Mayer. The term is used to describe qualities such as the ability to understand one's own feelings as well as the feelings of others. The concept was expanded for the lay audience in a popular book entitled "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman.