What are interpersonal skills?
‘Must have good interpersonal skills’ is often seen in assistant job descriptions, but what does that mean? What are interpersonal skills, and why are they so crucial for Assistants? Interpersonal skills, soft skills or people skills are the same things.
They are the skills you need to interact and communicate with the people around you. They are the emotional skills you need to get on with your colleagues, clients, and managers, which are crucial for Assistants. These are the skills that make us thrive in our roles. We are in constant contact with people of all levels within our organisations, and we have to work with all of them if we want to succeed at what we do.
So, interpersonal skills are essential. But what are they, how do we use them, and what interpersonal skills are needed to thrive in the modern-day role of the Assistant?
What are interpersonal skills?
The first thing to say is that interpersonal skills will only get more critical as technology and communicating through technology becomes central in our working lives. Adding a personal touch and making that face-to-face connection will make all the difference. So what are interpersonal skills? Simply put, interpersonal skills are the skills we need to deal with people, communicate and work effectively together. Interpersonal skills are crucial for Assistants and are in high demand. Look at any job description, and you will see an array of interpersonal skills need to succeed in the role.
These skills are often inherent within us; they are what we do and what comes naturally. That is why I often say that the role of the Assistant isn’t a job we fall into as much as a job that we find ourselves naturally good at. But, say that, like any skill, interpersonal skills can be improved. If you can master the skills you need to effectively get people on your side, your life (not just your job) becomes much easier.
So I’ve put together what I think are the top 15 interpersonal skills for Assistants, and I thought I would give you more information on why these skills are crucial for your success.
Top 15 interpersonal skills for Assistants
So what are interpersonal skills? Here are our top 15 interpersonal skills to get you started.
Communication
This one kind of goes without saying, right? Communication is everything in this role; from how you use body language to how you listen to other people communicate, you must be a good communicator. On top of that, you have to be aware of how your Executive expresses themselves so that you can complement their style. Remember, communication is just about speaking; it is about actively listening to what people tell you—being present at that moment (which is tough) and listening to what people say to you.
Adaptability
Assistants have to roll with the punches. They have not let the never-ending changes (hello rescheduling) get them down. Organisations are now moving at such a speed that adaptability is becoming a real sort after skill. You must get yourself in a mindset that allows for constant change.
Leadership
Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and is never about the job title. If you start to think of yourself as a leader, you will begin to change how you view your role and work with your colleagues. Leadership is about taking responsibility for yourself and those around you, owning your work, making a difference in your organisation and adding value.
Motivation
Being able to motivate other people is an incredible skill to have and something that Assistants should work on daily. Be inspiring, and get people to want to work with you and be around you. As Assistants, we have to get people to do things for us, for example, attend meetings we organise, get that board paper over on time, and meet our deadlines. These things are much easier to ask for and get if you can motivate people to want to do a good job and influence them to your way of thinking.
Responsibility
Taking responsibility for your work is crucial. You will thrive if you own your work and your role in your organisation. That means owning your mistakes, too – which can suck, but you’ll make fewer mistakes if you take responsibility for your role because you will want to do a good job! Taking responsibility means showing up daily with purpose and an awareness of what you want to achieve. This mindset gives you a focus and a desire to succeed.
Collaboration
We work so much better when we can collaborate with those around us. Assistants must collaborate with their Executive (which makes the relationship a partnership, not a dictatorship), share ideas and opinions and work together towards a common goal. There is a reason that so many collaboration tools and technologies are available to businesses now. Collaboration makes businesses more successful, and Assistants are crucial to that outlook.
Empathy
Assistants have buckets full of empathy; you wouldn’t be in the job if you didn’t. I find that empathy can often be taken advantage of by people who don’t respect what we do – be it that colleague who wants your time or that Executive who doesn’t understand your role. Empathy can quickly diminish when you don’t feel appreciated, or someone pisses you off. So empathy is essential – you have to figure out why someone is acting the way they are and deal with them accordingly. Compassion is hard to muster sometimes, but trying to understand where they are coming from will feel 100% better – trust me!
Problem-solving
Again, problem-solving is so vital for Assistants. Firstly finding those problem, identifying issues in the organisation, and then finding solutions adds so much value. Secondly, dealing with issues as they arise in a cool, calm and professional manner makes an Assistant worth their weight in gold!
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art of dealing with people sensitively and tactfully” It is the ability to communicate with people using an approach that considers their feelings and potential reaction to the situation. This skill allows assistants to find common ground with every person at every business level. You can read more about diplomacy for Assistants here.
Patience
Ooofff, patience is a tough one. When your Executive asks you the same question 20 times, it is your human right to get annoyed. But don’t. You’ll be sacked, even if you are in the right. That is where patience comes in because part of our role is to answer all those questions and be helpful. Breathe, reset and go again.
Inspiring trust
Assistants must gain their Executive’s confidence. They rely so heavily on you that the only way for the relationship to work is if they can trust you with anything they throw at you. You must also inspire trust in your colleagues; you are the bridge between the top level. Executives and the rest of the employees must trust that you know what you are doing. If they don’t, you will find they go straight to the Executive rather than coming to you first. This can cause no end of headaches for you. So, inspiring trust is keeping confidence and also inspiring others to trust your skills. Getting this right will make your job a whole lot easier.
Persuasive
Persuading people to do things for you or getting them around to your way of thinking is tough, but how much easier would your job be if you had excellent persuasion skills? Being persuasive comes down to communication and confidence, speaking passionately, yes, but also getting people to think it was their idea in the first place. I’ve always found if you talk passionately about something but base what you are saying, it is harder to be ignored.
Developing rapport
I’ve written a lot about this over the years. Establishing a rapport with those around you, particularly your Executive, is essential. Communication, it is the key to everything. Affinity comes down to, in my mind, treating everyone with respect, trying to get to know them on a human level, and understanding their work style and how they like to communicate.
Humour
Humour gets you a long way… a loooonnnggg way!
Networking
Having a solid network makes the job of an Assistant so much easier. I can not begin to tell you, not just within your organisation but also with your clients, suppliers, and other Assistants. It is so important to be able to speak to people and get help when you need to. Networking is a two-way street, so help others, build those bridges and connect people you think could support each other. If you have a strong network, you can solve any problem.
My very last point about interpersonal skills is this. Take an interest in other people, be nosy and ask questions. It can be challenging when you have so much work to do. You want to get your head down and get on with everything in front of you, but you’ve got to work with your colleagues and your Executive and build those relationships.
In conclusion, the role of an Assistant is unique and requires good interpersonal skills. It takes work and dedication to build up these components that are so essential for this role.
Additionally, it’s vital to nurture your emotional intelligence as you require the ability to get along with various stakeholders in different scenarios. Being an effective team player, using tact, diplomacy and understanding nuances in every conversation can naturally lead to great success in any organisation.
Developing your interpersonal skills is paramount if you want to succeed as an Assistant. To assist with this journey, be sure to enrol on the Assistant Essentials Online Course for guidance on all aspects of what it takes to thrive in such a challenging yet rewarding profession. Unlocking the potential within yourself could be one of the best investments you make; personal growth breeds confidence and sets a person up for future successes
