What do you do if you're struggling to improve your interpersonal skills?

1 Identify your strengths and weaknesses

The first step to improving your interpersonal skills is to assess your current level of competence and confidence in various situations. You can do this by asking for feedback from people you trust, such as your colleagues, friends, or family. Alternatively, you can use online tools or quizzes to evaluate your skills in areas such as listening, assertiveness, teamwork, or negotiation. By identifying your strengths and weaknesses, you can focus on the aspects that need more attention and practice.

3 Learn from others

One of the best ways to improve your interpersonal skills is to observe and learn from others who excel in this area. You can do this by watching how they interact with different people and situations, listening to how they express their ideas and emotions, and noticing how they handle challenges and conflicts. You can also ask them questions, seek their advice, or emulate their behaviors and attitudes. You can learn from others by attending workshops, webinars, or podcasts, reading books or articles, or joining online communities or forums.

4 Practice regularly

The most effective way to improve your interpersonal skills is to practice them regularly in real-life scenarios. You can do this by seeking opportunities to engage with diverse people and situations, such as volunteering, joining clubs or groups, or taking on new projects or roles. You can also practice by role-playing, simulating, or rehearsing scenarios that require interpersonal skills, such as giving feedback, resolving disputes, or persuading others. You can practice by yourself, with a partner, or with a group.

5 Reflect and improve

The final step to improving your interpersonal skills is to reflect on your progress and performance and identify areas for improvement. You can do this by asking for feedback from others, reviewing your actions and outcomes, or journaling your thoughts and feelings. By reflecting, you can recognize your achievements, celebrate your successes, acknowledge your mistakes, learn from your failures, and plan your next steps. You can also improve by setting new goals, seeking new challenges, or exploring new perspectives.

6 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?