Have you ever come across an advertisement for your dream job and had to hold back because it required “excellent people skills”? Let's beat the system!
I can’t begin to count the number of times I had to skip out on applying for a job because the job description read “excellent people skills required”. The truth is that almost all jobs require you to have people skills. People skills relate to both clients and the internal team in the office.
This sounds like a horror film for any introvert. However, I want to encourage you to take this as a sign to stop shying away from extroverted jobs. You can navigate your job without anyone having to notice that you struggle with its extroverted nature.
Here are some key people skills you need to thrive in a people-oriented job
The business culture is dominated by extroverted norms, which make those of us who lack people skills shy away. I am here to confirm to you that you can learn from your colleagues who have perfected their people skills. Additionally, your colleagues can learn a lot from you. Just because you lack people skills, does not mean that you don’t have the right skills to succeed in a people-oriented job. Most successful introverts have perfected the following 5 key people skills:
1. Social media mastery
Picture yourself walking into a room full of people who are eager to hear you say something. On the other hand, picture yourself in a comfortable chair with a keyboard or smartphone on hand addressing the same people. If the latter feels more comfortable for you, then this is your sign to polish your people skills through social media.
Social media has made it easier and faster to interact with people, create strong relationships, and close sales or deals. Get to know your online target market and use social media to attract them. There are so many useful social media courses online that you can use to master this skill. Don’t shy away from the books. Social media is a growing concept, and you have all the resources to help you with this.
Start by creating time to interact with your online network. Curate your posts and make them as interactive as possible. This will help you get more engagement with your online network and will attract more clients for your job. Always make sure that your posts are on-brand. The content that you post must be aligned with the vision and goals of the company.
2. Observe
Lacking people skills does have its perks. I was always the silent co-worker who observes others and makes mental notes. It has helped me achieve a lot in my career. There is a lot to learn when you sit back and watch. However, this does not mean that you distance yourself from the team or stare at people all day.
Watching the room before you react can help you pick up on a lot of signals including body language. Observe their moods or how they react to situations. Making a mental note of this will help you know if a co-worker is open to receiving negative criticism; or if your boss is open to discussing a pay increase. There is a lot of information around you, all you have to do is look.
Watch how people react when you make a presentation. When you get into a new environment with new people, take a few minutes to take in all the silent signals.
3. Prepare
If research is your stronghold, let it be known. Let your research skills compensate for your lack of people skills. Research skills include reading, planning, and creating solutions. Make sure that even if you are not the most outspoken, you are able to bring a good idea to the table when called upon.
Coming up with good ideas is not as easy as it sounds. Don’t just sit and voice out ideas without carrying out tests and research. Always make sure that your ideas are sound and supported by statistics or documents. Showing up prepared for a team meeting will definitely build up respect.
4. Listen
Listening is one of the key people skills that you need to master. If you lack people skills, you might struggle with being in the spotlight during meetings with clients and colleagues. The best way to blend into the background without seeming uninvolved is by polishing your listening skills. This means that you should work on actively listening to build strong work relationships and create a deeper understanding of your clients.
Active listening includes giving attention and asking follow-up questions so that the client or co-worker is assured that you are following the conversation. Additionally, giving your undivided attention makes the speaker feel respected and this is a strong foundation for building relationships.
Some of the things you can do to improve your listening skills include:
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Putting your phone away or on silent
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Maintaining eye contact
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Let the speaker complete their sentences before you speak
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Watch out for the tone and body language of the speaker
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Support silent moments during the conversation because the speaker might be gathering their thoughts and ideas
5. Self-awareness
What is your personality? Can you describe your style preference? If you like spending time alone, you might as well get to know yourself. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses, which may come in handy in a new environment. Self-awareness helps you become more teachable, open to learning from negative criticism, adaptable, and professional. Here are some questions that will help you become more self-aware:
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What is your communication style, personality preference, strengths, and weaknesses?
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What can make you angry? And how angry can you get?
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Are you open to receiving negative feedback?
Conclusion
As you try to navigate a job that is people-oriented, you should keep in mind that you are not the problem. Just because you don’t have the skills does not mean that you cannot learn them or look for an alternative way to perform your duties. Don’t feel pressured. If you ease into it, you will be able to build your people skills. Applying these people skills to your day-to-day will help you be more productive and ultimately successful. Good luck!
