How can you develop interpersonal skills in a virtual work environment?

1 Assess your current skills

Before you can improve your interpersonal skills, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. You can use online tools, such as the Interpersonal Skills Self-Assessment by Mind Tools, to evaluate your communication, listening, empathy, and teamwork abilities. Alternatively, you can ask for feedback from your colleagues, clients, or mentors on how you perform in different situations. Be open to constructive criticism and identify the areas that need improvement.

2 Set specific goals

Once you have assessed your current skills, you can set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for yourself. For example, you can aim to improve your active listening skills by paraphrasing what your clients say, asking open-ended questions, and avoiding distractions during virtual meetings. Or, you can work on your empathy skills by expressing appreciation, showing interest, and acknowledging emotions. Write down your goals and track your progress regularly.

3 Practice regularly

The best way to develop your interpersonal skills is to practice them as often as possible. You can use various platforms and methods to communicate with your clients, such as video calls, phone calls, emails, chats, or social media. Try to use the most appropriate mode of communication for each situation and purpose. For example, video calls are more suitable for building rapport, resolving conflicts, or discussing complex issues, while emails are more convenient for sending updates, confirmations, or documents.

4 Seek feedback

Feedback is crucial for learning and improving your interpersonal skills. You can seek feedback from your clients, colleagues, or managers on how you communicate, listen, empathize, and collaborate with them. You can also ask for specific suggestions on how to improve your skills or overcome challenges. Be respectful, appreciative, and responsive to the feedback you receive. Use it as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and celebrate your achievements.

5 Learn from others

Another way to develop your interpersonal skills is to learn from others who excel at them. You can observe how they interact with their clients, colleagues, or managers in different situations. You can also ask them for advice, tips, or best practices on how to handle various scenarios. You can also join online communities, forums, or groups related to your field or industry and network with other professionals who share your interests and goals.

6 Keep learning

Finally, you can always improve your interpersonal skills by keeping yourself updated on the latest trends, research, and resources on the topic. You can read books, articles, blogs, or podcasts that offer insights, strategies, or examples on how to enhance your interpersonal skills in a virtual work environment. You can also enroll in online courses, webinars, or workshops that teach you new skills or techniques that you can apply to your work.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?