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Developing Interpersonal Skills

In order to have a successful professional life, you have to be able to communicate with the people you work with. You have to be able to communicate with co-workers in a way that establishes respect and influence.

This short course is designed to teach you how to communicate with the people you work with in ways that shows confidence and gives them a sense of trust. By taking this course you will learn how to assert your influence and how you can use these skills to do things like resolve issues between people at work.

At every job, there is bound to be a conflict that will arise, and by taking this course you will gain the communication skills you need to resolve them. By learning the interpersonal skills that this course will equip you with, you will gain some foundational skills that will pave the way for your success.

This short course will provide you with the essential skills you need to be able to be able to successfully communicate and establish yourself with people in your professional life. The course is suitable for anyone who wants to learn, no matter how much experience you have.

This course is part of the People and Soft Skills for Professional and Personal Success Specialization from IBM.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal Skills are skills you use every day to communicate and interact with others. They enable you to interact positively and work effectively with others. The Interpersonal Skills course will help you develop skills and behaviors required to become an effective communicator, make a lasting impact, and deal with challenges in a controlled and focused manner.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops interpersonal skills, which are in high demand across industries

Explores interpersonal skills, which is a foundational skill for effective communication

Taught by IBM Skills Network Team, who are recognized for their expertise in professional skills development

Could be of particular interest to students in business or other fields emphasizing human resources or communications

Could be of particular interest to novice or early-career professionals

Could be of particular interest to students or professionals in need of a refresher in interpersonal skills and communication

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Developing Interpersonal Skills with these activities:

Create a digital or physical notebook to organize course materials

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Creating a digital or physical notebook will help you stay organized, facilitate efficient review, and enhance your understanding of the course concepts.

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Choose a digital note-taking app or a physical notebook.
Create sections for different topics and subtopics.
Summarize key points from lectures, readings, and discussions.
Add your own insights, questions, and connections to the material.

Practice active listening skills

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Practicing active listening skills will help you develop a critical skill for effective communication, allowing you to better comprehend and respond to others.

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Engage in role-playing exercises with a partner.
Attend workshops or webinars on active listening.
Record yourself listening to a conversation and analyze your listening habits.

Develop a communication plan for a workplace scenario

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Creating a communication plan will provide you with hands-on experience in applying the concepts learned in the course to real-world scenarios, enhancing your understanding and problem-solving abilities.

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Identify the communication goals and objectives.
Analyze the target audience and communication channels.
Develop key messages and a communication strategy.
Create a timeline and budget for implementation.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the communication plan.

Three other activities

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Attend industry events and conferences

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Attending industry events and conferences will allow you to connect with professionals in the field, learn about new trends, and enhance your professional network.

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Research and identify relevant industry events and conferences.
Register for and attend the events.
Prepare an elevator pitch to introduce yourself and your interests.
Connect with professionals on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

Mentor a junior colleague or student

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Mentoring others will not only benefit the mentee but also reinforce your own understanding of the course concepts as you explain and guide them.

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Identify a junior colleague or student who could benefit from your guidance.
Establish regular meetings and provide support and advice.
Share your experiences and insights to help them navigate challenges.
Provide feedback and encouragement to foster their growth.

Contribute to open-source communication tools or projects

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Contributing to open-source projects will allow you to apply your communication and interpersonal skills in a practical setting, while also contributing to the wider community.

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Identify open-source communication tools or projects that align with your interests.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute, such as bug fixes, feature enhancements, or documentation improvements.
Submit your contributions and engage with the project community.

Career center

Learners who complete Developing Interpersonal Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers oversee all aspects of human resources within an organization, including recruitment, hiring, training, and employee relations. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course will equip you with the communication and interpersonal skills to effectively manage employees, resolve conflicts, and create a positive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers oversee the planning, development, and implementation of training and development programs for employees within an organization. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course will provide you with the skills necessary to effectively communicate with employees at all levels, create a positive and supportive learning environment, and evaluate the effectiveness of training programs.

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Customer Service Manager

Customer Service Managers oversee the provision of customer service to clients and customers of an organization. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course will provide you with the communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with customers, resolve complaints, and build strong customer relationships.

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Social and Community Service Manager

Social and Community Service Managers lead the provision of social and community services for individuals, families, groups, and communities. They oversee the development and implementation of programs and services to meet the needs of clients and communities. Taking the Developing Interpersonal Skills course will enable you to develop the interpersonal and communication skills required to lead a team, collaborate with stakeholders, and effectively manage resources to achieve program goals.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts oversee the analysis of business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Business Analysts as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to gather requirements from stakeholders, analyze data, and present recommendations.

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Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistants provide support to executives and managers. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Administrative Assistants as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to manage calendars, schedule appointments, and correspond with clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics, including business strategy, marketing, and operations. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Consultants as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with clients, gather information, and present recommendations.

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Recruiter

Recruiters oversee the process of finding and hiring new employees for organizations. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Recruiters as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with candidates, screen resumes, and conduct interviews.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers oversee the public relations and communications activities of an organization. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Public Relations Managers as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with the media, manage public relations campaigns, and protect the reputation of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Event Planner

Event Planners oversee the planning and execution of events for organizations and individuals. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Event Planners as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with clients, vendors, and attendees, and to manage the logistics of events.

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Account Manager

Account Managers oversee the relationship between an organization and its customers. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Account Managers as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with customers, resolve issues, and grow accounts.

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Office Manager

Office Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an office. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Office Managers as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to manage staff, resolve conflicts, and maintain a positive work environment.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers oversee the marketing and advertising activities of an organization. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Marketing Managers as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with customers, manage marketing campaigns, and develop effective marketing strategies.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the planning, execution, and completion of projects within an organization. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Project Managers as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to manage project teams, resolve conflicts, and deliver projects on time and within budget.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers oversee the sales and marketing activities of an organization. The Developing Interpersonal Skills course may be useful for Sales Managers as it can help you to develop the communication and interpersonal skills needed to build relationships with customers, close deals, and motivate a sales team.

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Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Developing Interpersonal Skills .

How to Have That Difficult Conversation

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Comprehensive guide to developing strong interpersonal skills. It covers a wide range of topics, including communication, conflict resolution, and building relationships. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their ability to interact with others.

Developing Interpersonal Skills

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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