| According to some research studies, the | | | | reinforces their value to the team. Improving |
| number one reason why managers and executives | | | | interpersonal skills The good news is that |
| find themselves with a stalled or | | | | everyone can learn new interpersonal skills |
| underperforming career is a lack of | | | | and improve upon their old ones. Most |
| interpersonal skills. This might seem | | | | managers will say that they already have good |
| surprising, given the amount of training and | | | | interpersonal skills, so it comes as a shock |
| attention given to technical skills and | | | | when they receive open, honest feedback that |
| business knowledge, but the fact remains that | | | | says they need to make improvements. Only |
| there is more to career success than just | | | | through such feedback, though, can areas for |
| knowing the facts. Hard skills vs. soft | | | | improvement be identified and specific goals |
| skills A typical business degree program or | | | | set for practicing new behaviors. For |
| executive training program will focus on what | | | | example, if you are perceived as a poor |
| are considered hard skills. Examples might | | | | listener then you can practice new behaviors |
| include strategic business planning, | | | | to change that perception. You might set a |
| financial analysis, budgeting, or product | | | | goal to focus more on listening to another |
| development. These are all important things | | | | person in one-on-one situations, or to limit |
| to know, but an increasing number of | | | | your contributions in a group discussion so |
| companies are also interested in the | | | | that others can contribute more. Another |
| so-called soft skills. These soft skills are | | | | strategy is to enlist the help of a learning |
| best defined as how a manager interacts with | | | | partner. This person observes you and |
| people. An evaluation of soft skills might | | | | provides you with regular feedback on |
| include answer the following questions: What | | | | whatever behavior you are trying to improve. |
| behaviors does the manager consistently | | | | He or she is your cheerleader when you do |
| demonstrate? How is the manager viewed by | | | | well and your coach when you can do better. |
| others at levels at, above, and below his or | | | | Putting it all together The bottom line is |
| her organizational level? How does the | | | | that when it comes to being a good manager or |
| manager communicate with others? How does the | | | | leader, you must master the hard skills of |
| manager handle team-building situations? Does | | | | your specific job as well as the soft skills |
| the manager get along with other people? | | | | of interpersonal relations. Interpersonal |
| Getting personal Many business professionals | | | | skills must be a focus of your leadership |
| have difficulty with soft skills because they | | | | development. Some people are naturally better |
| are so personal in nature, but it is exactly | | | | at personal interactions, but anyone can |
| these soft skills that are keys to success as | | | | learn to do better. The key is to recognize |
| a manager and leader. Even more difficult is | | | | the importance of interpersonal relations, |
| accepting the reality of poor soft skills and | | | | honestly evaluate your skill level, and |
| making an effort to improve. It is not enough | | | | consciously improve those behaviors that need |
| anymore to know how to analyze a profit and | | | | work. Visit for a wealth of leadership |
| loss statement. A good manager or leader | | | | development information. Susan West has held |
| will take that profit and loss statement and | | | | many executive leadership positions during |
| use it to coach employees, facilitate team | | | | her 25 years of business experience. She |
| productivity, and lead toward performance | | | | shares her knowledge and lessons learned |
| improvement. This cannot be done simply by | | | | through a variety of programs offered by |
| reading the numbers and telling people that | | | | QuadWest Associates, LLC including coaching, |
| numbers need to change. It is done by | | | | leadership workshops, tele-seminars and |
| interacting with people in a way that | | | | consulting. |
| encourages them, motivates them, and | | | | |