21 Interpersonal Skills Examples Employers Look For in 2024

Here is our interpersonal skills examples list that employers value and will be looking for from job candidates.

Job seekers should pay particular attention to the most relevant interpersonal skills required for the job they are applying for.

It is a great idea to check out the job description for the role, research the company on its website and social media, and then match up the best and most relevant interpersonal skills examples to mention in the experience section of your cv/resume (which should be tailored to each application), on the application form and at interview.

What Are Interpersonal Skills Examples?

Interpersonal skills encompass the qualities you draw upon in your interactions and communications with others. They pertain to a range of situations where effective communication and collaboration are crucial.

A few interpersonal skills examples comprise:

1. Excellent Communication

The first interpersonal skills example is excellent communication. Good communication is an important part of a normal working day, where you will be required to communicate with colleagues, suppliers, customers, managers or members of the public.

Communication is as much about effective listening and understanding non-verbal cues as it is about what you say and how you say it.

The most effective communicators know how to talk to people from different backgrounds, can empathize and negotiate where needed, and can convey information in the most appropriate way possible.

You can improve your communication skills in several ways:

• Talk to people around you and focus on really listening to what they have to say. Notice their facial expressions, body positions, and gestures to get a fuller picture of what they are trying to tell you.
• Think about how you would speak to a member of the public about something work-related. How have you had excellent customer service in the past? Can you use that knowledge to improve the way you communicate with customers or suppliers?
• Try and share information or instructions with someone and think about how you can share that knowledge concisely so that there is no confusion.

2. Management Skills

Managing people or a department needs a combination of different skills, and while some of them might be a bit more practical, the better interpersonal skills a manager has, the better their relationship will be with their team members.

Managers need to be able to organize themselves and others, and effectively delegate tasks when necessary.

Delegation and the completion of work needed are achievable through effective interpersonal skills – asking co-workers for help with a task or demonstrating what they need to do to complete a task effectively.

You can improve your management skills in a few ways:

• Think about managing an area of your life differently. Perhaps you need to delegate some housework tasks to other members of the family – how are you going to ask them to help you complete the necessary tasks? Sometimes this can be straightforward, other times you might need to negotiate instead.
• At work, see if you can lead some projects in the office if you don’t have any experience in managing a team or an office. Project management is not the same as other management roles, but the interpersonal skills that you will need to use to ensure that deadlines are met are very similar.

3. Decision Making

Making a decision might not seem like an example of interpersonal skills on the surface, but effective decision making needs the cooperation of different people.

Not only do they need to be told about the decision that you have made, but they might also need to be consulted when you are still researching.

Logical reasoning and critical thinking are two important parts of decision making, and the best way to ensure that all viewpoints are taken into consideration is to speak to the people who are likely to be personally affected by any changes that you might make.

To improve your decision-making skills, you can:

• Take a problematic scenario and think critically about each facet of the problem. How might other people be affected, and what might their view of the issue be? This empathy is an interpersonal skill, but when used with critical thinking skills is a way to make the best decisions.
• Practice making considered decisions during a normal working day. Even if it is just choosing what sandwich to have at lunch, thinking logically about a problem and considering other people’s points of view will help you get used to considering other people when you need to make a more important choice.

4. Teamwork

More than just collaboration, effective teamwork is an interpersonal skill that demonstrates to potential employers that you are experienced in working to deadlines and helping a whole team be successful.

People with excellent teamwork skills can encourage and motivate other people, utilizing the diversity of a team to get the results that are needed.

Teamwork is about using the strengths and abilities of everyone in the team, especially those who have specialist knowledge.

You can improve your teamwork skills by:

• Working on projects in your current employment or while you are still at school, ensuring that you know as much as you can about your teammates. This knowledge will help you make the most effective use of their skills and abilities so that you can achieve what you have set out to do.

5. Self-Confidence

A good level of self-confidence in a workplace can open doors and help you make an impression. It can also demonstrate how you approach various situations and deal with them both positively and effectively.

To be successful, it is important to demonstrate self-confidence at every stage of your career, whether you are a graduate looking for an entry position or a more experienced member of the team hoping to secure promotion.

Self-confidence at work will improve the way people see you and your views, ideas and opinions will be taken more seriously.

You can improve your self-confidence by:

• Thinking critically about what you are good at, and what value you can bring to an organization. If, for example, you are particularly good at creating useful spreadsheets, then have the self-confidence to tell people that you can do it.

6. Dependability

Being dependable means doing what you say you will when you say you will.

Employers value dependable employees because they can be relied on to meet deadlines and work to the fullest of their abilities.

Being dependable also means holding yourself accountable if something goes wrong – the workplace is not always smooth sailing and if problems occur a dependable employee will take responsibility and work to find a suitable solution.

To improve your dependability:

• Put yourself into the position of being the person that always gets their work done, to the right standards and on time.
• Being sensitive to the needs of the business and ensuring that you meet or exceed performance expectations is also an important part of this.

7. Relationship Management

Building effective relationships is one thing but managing them is something entirely different.

This is an important skill in many roles, from junior posts to management.

At every level in a business, you will be expected to engage with colleagues, partners and clients. The ability to manage relationships based on respect for each other and mutual trust is very important within any business environment.

You can improve your relationship-building and management skills by:

• Taking the time to communicate effectively with different people, whether they are customers, colleagues, suppliers or management.
• Listening and remembering key points in a conversation.
• Showing respect when needed.
• Demonstrating that you are a reliable person all help build and maintain relationships.

8. Receptiveness to Feedback

Being open to feedback can help you develop both personally and professionally.

View all feedback as a chance to learn and never react defensively.

This can take some practice, especially if the feedback is negative, but always take a deep breath and focus on how you can improve.

You can improve your receptiveness to feedback by:

• Thinking about when you might get criticism or praise at work, and really take on board what that person is saying.
• To take on board feedback, you must first listen to it. Don’t think about your response; just listen to what is being said.
• Take on board what you have been told and use this positively to further enhance your performance and productivity.

9. Non-Verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication is often overlooked, but don't forget to consider how your body language and gestures could be interpreted.

Factors to consider when interacting with others include:

• Eye contact
• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Personal space
• Posture and body position

Your body language will often determine how your verbal communication is perceived. In fact, your body language will impact your communication skills more than any other factor.

Don’t forget, that as part of an effective conversation, you will need to be able to read the body language and non-verbal cues of the people you are talking to.

You can improve your non-verbal communication by:

• Practicing talking in a mirror or filming yourself so you can see how you portray yourself.
• Watch people on the television, particularly in live situations, to see how they are using their bodies to communicate as well.

10. Active Listening

When improving your interpersonal communication skills, the first thing you need to learn is to listen.

Failure to listen properly can have disastrous consequences, from failing to follow through on a manager’s instructions to not completing a customer’s request.

Active listening is a skill that will help you understand and learn from others and respond correctly to what they are telling you.

Giving non-verbal signals that you are actively listening (such as nodding or maintaining eye contact) will also build trust as the people you are collaborating with will feel heard.

Improve your active listening skills in everyday conversations by:

• Giving your full attention to other people when they are speaking. This will help you understand what they are saying properly, rather than just using it as a space to think of what you are going to say next.
• When you are listening, if there is something that you aren’t clear on, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
• Think about some of the verbal cues that you could add which will demonstrate that you have been listening, such as repeating a key idea with different phrasing.

11. Adaptability

Adaptability is a key skill in the workplace, especially if you are in the entrepreneurial space or working in technology, finance or the public sector.

For people with great skills in adaptability, being able to work in a fast-paced environment where things can change in an instant is not a hardship; they can multitask and change direction when needed, and they do not need to have hard rules to follow or need to be micromanaged.

To improve your adaptability skills:

• Think about how comfortable you feel with change and working on different projects at the same time. If you can relax a bit at work and realize that you don’t necessarily need to do the same thing every day to get results, it can be quite freeing.

12. Conflict Management/Conflict Resolution

A key interpersonal skill for those working in teams is conflict management, especially for those looking at leadership roles.

Conflict in the workplace can reduce productivity and cause negativity. Good conflict management skills include diplomacy, empathy, negotiation, assertiveness and compromise.

Being able to communicate your views, or defend the views of others, professionally and respectfully is a key skill in the workplace.

Developing skills in conflict management comes from experience, although you can take courses and get opportunities for learning and development in conflict resolution too.

13. Leadership Skills

More than just basic management skills, a leader is someone who inspires their team and helps them grow and develop.

Leadership skills are important for those who have responsibility for the work of others, and a good leader has empathy, can negotiate when there is a problem and can encourage employees to work harder.

Improve your leadership skills by:

• Understanding the difference between just managing a team and leading a team.
• Research different leadership styles and their pros and cons.
• Ask for more responsibility in your current role and use these experiences to learn and demonstate your potential.
• There are plenty of resources online about leadership skills that you can use.

14. Public Speaking

Communication isn’t always on a personal level, and if you can speak confidently in public you will be able to deliver presentations confidently and might even be able to give speeches or become a keynote speaker at conferences.

Public speaking combines self-confidence, charisma and knowledge as a skill that allows you to be able to speak about a subject in public.

You can improve your public speaking skills by:

• Going to open mike nights at your local comedy club and having a go or joining a local amateur dramatics group and performing.

15. Self-Awareness

Much like self-confidence, self-awareness is a recognition of your abilities – but it also requires a deep understanding of your limitations.

Being self-aware means understanding what you can do, while also knowing where you might struggle or need some extra help and support to be successful.

People who have great self-awareness are not afraid to admit that they might not have the skills to complete a task, and these are the people who will be able to delegate when necessary.

If they cannot delegate, then they are more likely to seek training or find someone with the right abilities to show them what to do.

You can improve your self-awareness by:

• Considering your strengths and your weaknesses and deciding whether to pursue extra training
• Being ready to delegate any tasks that you are not capable of completing yourself.

16. Positive Attitude

Showing positivity, even in difficult situations, is important.

Be positive from the moment you fill out the application form or write a cover letter through to the interview, your first day at work and beyond.

Never say anything negative about your current or past employer, even if you feel strongly.

Employees with a positive attitude are more likely to treat others positively, which creates a more harmonious working environment.

Here is how to improve your positive attitude:

• Practice positivity in your everyday life to get more from daily tasks.
• Some people find that a practice such as writing down things that you are grateful for every day can help bring more positivity to the day, or you might want to use positivity and gratitude as a weekly check-in with yourself as part of your self-care routine.

17. Workplace Etiquette

How you come across to others can speak volumes. Learning workplace etiquette is a great way to leave a lasting impression on those you meet.

Check your posture, ensure that you stand straight and make eye contact, turn towards people when they are speaking and smile genuinely at them.

Follow the dress code of the company and make sure that your accessories such as ties, bags and jewelry are suitable for the workplace.

Also, ensure that you demonstrate kindness and courtesy and arrive in good time every morning.

This ties in with being dependable and professional, and you can improve this interpersonal skill by:

• Ensuring that you are developing relationships that are work appropriate.
• You will find it much easier to follow the rules of the work environment if you know what they are, so make sure you find out about the dress code and employee expectations early in the recruitment process.
• You will usually get some idea about what is expected of you as an employee from the company website, or you can reach out to the recruitment team to find out more.

18. Assertiveness

Being assertive is related to being confident, but in many ways, it includes being a bit more aggressive to get results.

An assertive person is not afraid to put their thoughts and feelings across in each situation, and they can be relied on to have an opinion.

There is a difference between being assertive and being rude, so it is important that when you are making a point you are still being respectful, and you have data and research to back up any points you are making.

You can improve your assertiveness skills by:

• Being confident that you have a valid opinion, this can take practice and can require working on your general confidence and self esteem.
• Some people find it much easier to be assertive on someone else’s behalf – you might be more likely to stand up for someone that is being given a hard time in public than you would for yourself in the same situation.
• Be your own advocate and don’t be afraid to stand up for what is right (in a work-appropriate manner, of course).

19. Professionalism

As an interpersonal skill, professionalism is about treating people with respect and being aware that you are a representative of the company your work for and for yourself whenever you are dealing with customers, potential clients, suppliers, managers or even other colleagues.

Being professional means taking pride in your work, your appearance and your ability to get the job done, treating everyone in the same respectful manner, and taking the role you are in seriously.

Developing professionalism as a skill is something that comes with the experience of being in a professional environment, but you can improve your professionalism by:

• Ensuring you are respectful of other people.
• Consider the impression you are making in your interactions.
• Think about the image you are putting across at work, and make sure you are always the best of yourself.
• Complete your work to the best of your ability.

20. Empathy

This is an interpersonal skill that important to help develop relationships and is very important for leaders.

People with great empathy skills are good at developing relationships, can help their colleagues grow and can use their skills for problem solving.

Empathy is the understanding of the way a situation might affect someone, or how they might be feeling. It differs from sympathy as you do not have to put yourself in the same position to understand someone’s feelings.

You can improve your empathy skills by:

• Really listening to other people and the way they describe how they are affected by a situation or a problem.
• Caring for others and thinking about what they might be going through outside of work.
• Learn to be curious about other people's lives and spend time getting to know them, especially those outside of your normal experience. Following a range of different people on social media is a nice way to do this.
• Examine your ingrained biases and judgments and work through them.

21. Patience

Whether you are working with colleagues, members of the public or customers, patience is a sometimes-undervalued interpersonal skill that can have a profound effect on relationship development.

People who have excellent patience skills can communicate effectively, can deal with problems and conflicts without escalating, and make their colleagues and customers feel listened to and that their opinions are valid.

You can improve your patience skills by:

• Really concentrating on what other people are saying and trying to take an interest, even if the conversation doesn’t feel that exciting to you.
• Manage stress, anxiety and frustration by practicing deep breathing or mindfulness.

Being patient can pay dividends when you are working on building new relationships.

Showcasing Interpersonal Skills Examples That Make a Difference in Interviews

When presenting interpersonal skills examples during an interview, it's crucial to highlight your proficiency in effective communication and collaboration with others.

One effective strategy is to provide concrete instances from your past experiences where these interpersonal skills played a pivotal role.

For instance, you could describe a situation where your adeptness in conflict resolution and communication led to the successful resolution of a team dispute.

Another compelling example might involve discussing your teamwork abilities by recounting a specific project where your contributions were instrumental in achieving a positive outcome.

By incorporating interpersonal skills examples into your interview responses, you not only demonstrate your competence but also provide tangible evidence of your ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and navigate interpersonal challenges effectively.

Final Thoughts

This article provides professionals with the skills necessary for the modern workplace. Emphasizing the vital role of interpersonal skills, the article covers everything from foundational communication and management to subtleties like non-verbal communication and active listening.

Teamwork, dependability, and adaptability are essential, contributing to personal success and a culture of trust within organizations. Decision-making, relationship management, and feedback receptiveness are important leadership qualities.

In conclusion, these skills are not just checkboxes for employers; they are dynamic tools that empower individuals in their professional relationships. In addition, cultivating these interpersonal skills becomes a strategic investment in a successful and fulfilling career.