Developing Strong Inter-personal Skills At Workplace

Raghav is an excellent employee and was expecting a promotion to the managerial position this year. However the result of the interview proved to be disastrous for him. The role was offered to the other candidate. The reason was his poor interpersonal skills to impress the interviewer.If he had the desired inter-personal skills he would have got the promotion as a Manager.Each person has different levels of interpersonal skills. Many may not be even aware of the flaws in their interpersonal skills and consider themselves to be good.The most important question here is why interpersonal skills are so important.????Interpersonal skills are essential skills required for interacting and connecting with people.It refers to a person's ability to interact effectively with other members of the organisation like peers, subordinates and superiors. Interpersonal skills plays a pivotal role for professional success and help one to excel at the workplace. The growing importance of good interpersonal skills cannot be denied in the present age of information and technology. People who constantly work on developing strong interpersonal skills are usually more successful in every sphere. In various job situations, the manager would require better interpersonal skills.Following are some of the important interpersonal skills needed at the workplace:

• Strong communication skills
• Good negotiation skills
• Ability to resolve conflicts in time
• Motivational skills
• Willingness to learn
• Personal integrity
• Team skills
• Ability to manage behavior in personal interactions
• Ability to influence the behavior of others positively
• Ability to listen attentively to others
• Willingness to be accountable
• Readiness to accept feedback
• Ability to learn from mistakes
• Readiness to share knowledge with others
• Ability to respect everyone in the organisation

IMPROVING INTER-PERSONAL SKILLS

 Robert Half International, Executice Director Paul McDonald also admitted the importance of interpersonal skills. He said "while strong interpersonal skills are essential at all levels, they are particularly critical for managers". Interpersonal skills are extremely important for managers as they have to interact with employees as a mentor and as a boss, peers,superiors.Interpersonal skills can be improved by repeated practice.Without good interpersonal skills it is difficult to perform one's duties efficiently. But how can we attain these skills????. Following are few important points which are helpful in developing strong interpersonal skills

1. Willingness to Learn: As a baby, we began learning our mother tongue by listening and observing. Similarly listening attentively to what the other person says guarantees the effectiveness of interpersonal talks.Be alert and watchful when you are talking to others.When we listen, we should be aware of our own prejudices and biases so that wrong conclusions can be avoided.A clear distinction should be made between listening and hearing.Try to listen with a broader outlook and understanding.
2. Assertiveness: Assertiveness is fundamental to successful negotiation. It is the ability to express your point clearly without getting aggressive.Assertive people are able to express themselves others can respect and understand without losing their own point of view. Assertive people are able to work well with uneasy people and restless situations.Assertiveness is imperative for manager to work effectively in an organisation.
3. Accepting Responsibility is Win Win!!: Accepting responsibilities can help people to scale the unprecedented heights in their careers. Managers often have to encounter situations where they have to accept additional responsibilities from their Seniors. Saying "NO" or running away from such situations is not the solution.Greater progress in your life is possible to the extent you are shouldering the given responsibility. In-fact people who take up additional responsibilities are able to learn new set of skills which could be beneficial in advancement of their career.
4. Be a Team Player: A team player is someone who seeks excellence beyond their capacities.Team players always believe in teamwork which produces synergy.Employees who are effective team players are committed, flexible,cooperative and supportive in achieving the organisational goals.Try to be an effective team player which requires a little sacrifice and helping other team members.Try to actively participate and stay engaged to support others in the time of need.
5. Strong Communication:Effective verbal and non-verbal skills are always needed at the workplace.Strong communication skills is a prerequisite condition for excelling at the workplace.Effective communication empowers employees, provides clear direction for achieving planned goals and increases productivity. Effective communication reduces unnecessary competition and helps employees work harmoniously.Communication builds confidence level and helpful in exhibiting self esteem.Constantly improving your communication skills can help you to carve a niche for yourself at the workplace. 
6. Managing Conflicts: Conflicts generally arise when there is opposition to ideas or when there is mis-communication. Conflicts needs to be managed judiciously and their effective management is inevitable to the working of any organization.Sometimes personal conflicts occur at the workplace which are detrimental to the efficient functioning of the organisation.There are various approaches which can be resorted to in conflict management.It includes: avoiding the conflict when confronted by it, by collaborating or compromising to reach the desired agreement.
7. Positive Approach can do wonders!!:No one likes to work with a person who keeps long-drawn and downcast face.Employees who are optimists can cope stressful situations effectively than those who are pessimists. Positive people are more likely to be successful than the negative ones.In one study it is found that when optimists encounter disappointment instead of giving up they are more likely to focus on the area which will resolve such situation. Try to look on the bright side and remain cheerful. Maintaining a positive approach will keep you focused and helpful in combating stressful situation.

Incredible App for Women!!!!

 Women security has been a contentious issue for a very long time all across the world. It has been a concern for many communities and people around the world. The recent incident of Delhi Gang rape has further aggravated the subject matter of women's security in our country. The statistics available are terrifying enough to compel a person to think "what kind of society I am living in".But it is important to understand that the legislation enacted by the Government alone is not sufficient to guarantee the safety of women.It is the need of the hour to realize that everyone should make his/her contribution to make our world a safer place to live. 

In the present age which is circumscribed by gadgets and gizmos, tablets, mobilephones,smartphones, there are still a lot many weapons available to a girl to protect herself sensing the dangerous situation. I was updating the applications in my phone the other day and guess what I came across with an amazing App and instantly I downloaded it in my phone.I thought to share the USP of this amazing App with you considering the growing insecurity of women across the nation. The Channel V and the Gumrah Team did a splendid job in this regards. They have come up with an incredible application for the smart phones i.e Vith U app. Vith U app is an amazing App to ensure women's safety in a suspicious situation. This App is not just restricted to girls. In-fact it can be used by any individual to safeguard himself from an unseen situation.

HOW DOES IT WORKS:

All you need is to go to Google Play and install the Vith U App in your phone. It is an emergency App, just click on the activate button of this App twice. It automatically starts sending out alert messages to all the contacts saved into the app as the designated guardians.

The automated message states " I am in danger. I need help. Please follow my location'

Respected guardians will keep on getting alert messages along with the link of your current location.These messages will be delivered every 2 minutes to all your designated guardians.

On the extreme top right hand corner, this App also has a Menu bar with different options to keep you abreast with all happenings around you. Tips feed option gives you exclusive tips and prepares you for an emergency situation.Its a thumbs up App for me..!!!!!

Girls what are you waiting for.......it is the need of your smart phone..start downloading it..!! stay safe..!!

Stress Management at Workplace

Stress is defined as anything that disturbs the physical or mental state of an individual. Stress is a physiological and psychological imbalance. Stress is the body's way of reacting to any given situation and it can have a serious repercussions on an individual's life if left unchecked. Statistics have revealed that more than 100,000 persons commit suicide in India every year due to stress and this figure is increasing at alarming rate. Stress has become an intrinsic part of our life. It is found everywhere and influences everyone. A person caught in a traffic jam while rushing to office is under the influence of stress. Similarly a student preparing for the competitive examination is under stress. A person applying for a Visa to Canada also shows some signs of stress. 

Stress can either be good or bad. Good stress creates a conducive environment to perform an activity whereas bad stress has detrimental effects on the body of an individual over a period of time like- sleeplessness, eating disorder, suicidal tendencies. Stress is unavoidable and has become an inherent part of human life. It can also have a disastrous impact on relationships. Many people fail to understand the importance of stress management in their lives. It is imperative to become an expert in handling stressful situations. Effective managers handle stress by proper planning of work, relaxing and rejuvenating themselves. Here are few tips to cope up with stressful situations:

STRATEGIES TO HANDLE STRESS:

Prioritize work: Human beings have a tendency to procrastinate their work and then to panic later about such actions, resulting in stressful situations. An ideal way to minimize stress is multitasking through planning and prioritization. In-fact multi-tasking has become the buzzword these days. Prioritizing work depending upon the urgency is a best way to deal with stress. Make a list of all the important tasks you have to do. After prioritizing, allocate time to each task depending upon such priority. For eg- A manager may have to attend a monthly meeting as well an official party. It is clear that he will choose to attend a meeting first.

Delegation of work: Some managers prefer to accomplish all the tasks themselves. This leads to real sense of pressure and work overload. There is no shame in asking for assistance from subordinates. Delegation of work is an important skill and allows a manager to make the optimum use of time and skills. Delegation is a win-win if done appropriately. It is important to learn how to delegate your work to others to reduce work related stress. For instance a Manager can delegate routine work to other people. This will also be helpful in accomplishing the work within the required time frame.

Laugh away your stress!! "A day without laughter is day wasted for life". Laughter is a great stress buster. Laughter is the best medicine and costs nothing. It can actually improve health. It fights stress and helpful in developing an optimistic approach towards life. Laughter is a great way to relieve stress at workplace. It is evident that a person with a good sense of humor is less likely to under stress. A sense of humor helps an individual to appreciate his life and provides moments of delight

Relaxation techniques: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". This is quite true in our day-to day life. Taking out time for relaxation is really helpful in reducing stress to a great extent. Relaxation is doing something what a person enjoys the most. Relaxation recharges your lost energy and prepare you for other activities. Relaxation techniques varies from person to person and personal preferences. Some people relaxes by connecting with a strong system of support like peers, colleagues and friends. While other may unwind by listening to music, watching a humorous movie, reading books etc. These relaxation techniques helps in regaining the lost strength and to get back to the work with a rejuvenated spirit.

Exercise: A healthy person is better at handling stressful situations than an unhealthy person. Regular exercise keeps an individual physically and mentally strong to take on the new challenges. Inculcating a habit of regular exercise keep a check of lower blood pressure and enhances blood circulation. A person may follow a healthy regime even at work for instance- using a staircase instead of elevator, going  by walk for a short distance can be helpful to keep one's fit

Balanced Diet:  A balanced diet is plays a significant role in minimizing stress. It builds a strong immune system, physical and mental health. It helps us to achieve a long and healthy life. However a stressed person tends to neglect his diet which disrupts physical and mental balance. It is important that a well-balanced meal rich in nutrients should be taken on time to overcome stress. The intake of coffee and tea must be reduced. Drinking a lots of water and fresh juices is also beneficial.

Sound Sleep: Sleep is a weapon to fight stress. Excessive stress makes a person feel dull and sleepless. It causes one to think irrationally. Sound sleep helps the brain to remain vigilant throughout the day. Many studies have shown that ideally a person needs 7-8 of sleep per day. Sound sleep makes a person feel fresh and prepares him to face another day. One may resort to following a regular bedtime routine. One must go to bed at the routine time every day.