Soft Skills: Develop Interpersonal Skills from edX

The most essential skills needed to be successful in your professional life is being able to effectively communicate and interact with the people you work with. These are called interpersonal skills. Being able to talk with your co-workers in a way that establishes respect and eminence is an incredibly important ability to have in the workplace.

This short, self-paced course will teach you the skills you need in order to communicate and interact with people in a way that shows confidence and gives them a sense of trust. In this course you will learn skills such as asserting your influence, different communication styles, listening skills, and more!

No matter where you work, conflicts are something that will naturally arise, and after taking this course you will be able to recognize and apply the interpersonal skills you need in order to resolve them. The skills offered in this course are foundational soft skills to have, and will take you one step closer to professional success.

This short course can be taken by anyone who wants to learn, no matter how much experience you have. Whether you are taking this course as a career starter or skill refresher, this course is for everyone!

This course is part of the People and Power Skills Professional Certificate from IBM, that consists of a series of short courses to help you develop essential soft skills for success in the workplace.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Analyze different communication styles as well as their strengths and weaknesses and when they are appropriate to use
Build and maintain trust with your co-workers and increase your influence and eminence in the workplace

Identify ways to approach and mediate workplace conflicts
Demonstrate active listening skills to enhance your understanding of workplace issues

Analyze different communication styles as well as their strengths and weaknesses and when they are appropriate to use
Build and maintain trust with your co-workers and increase your influence and eminence in the workplace
Identify ways to approach and mediate workplace conflicts
Demonstrate active listening skills to enhance your understanding of workplace issues

Syllabus

The course is composed of the following lessons:

- Interpersonal skills: An overview

- About the course

- Topic 1: What is my communication style?

- Topic 2: How can I become a better communicator?

- Topic 3: How can I behave assertively?

- Topic 4: How can I increase my influence?

- Topic 5: How should I approach workplace conflict?

- Topic 6: How can I resolve workplace conflict?

- Course-end Assessment

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores interpersonal skills, which are crucial for professional success

Provides practical guidance on communication styles, conflict resolution, and building trust

Suitable for anyone looking to enhance their professional communication skills

Developed by Skills Network, known for its expertise in soft skills training

Taught through interactive lessons and diverse media, promoting engagement and retention

Requires no prior experience, making it accessible to learners with varying backgrounds

Career center

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

Mediator

Mediators help people resolve conflict. They work with a variety of parties, including individuals, businesses, and governments. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as mediators need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help mediators develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Negotiator

Negotiators help people reach agreements. They work with a variety of parties, including individuals, businesses, and governments. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as negotiators need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help mediators develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Social Worker

Social Workers help people navigate problems that are rooted in societal structures and interpersonal relationships. They may work with individuals, families, groups, or entire communities. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as social workers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help social workers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Counselor

Counselors help people with mental health issues. They work with a variety of clients, including individuals, families, and groups. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as counselors need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help counselors develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources within an organization. This includes recruiting, hiring, training, and developing employees. This course is especially relevant to this role because HR professionals are often responsible for mediating workplace conflict. Additionally, this course can help HR professionals sharpen their communication and influencing skills.

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Teacher

Teachers are responsible for educating students. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including students, parents, and administrators. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as teachers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help teachers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Customer Service Manager

Customer Service Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of customer service within an organization. This includes developing and implementing customer service policies and procedures, and training and developing customer service representatives. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as customer service managers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help customer service managers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the operations of nonprofit organizations. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and the community. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as nonprofit managers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help nonprofit managers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the operations of healthcare facilities. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including patients, families, staff, and physicians. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as healthcare administrators need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help healthcare administrators develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing the public image of an organization. This includes developing and executing public relations campaigns, as well as responding to media inquiries. A background in communications is often expected in this field. To improve your chances of success, take courses that teach you about interpersonal skills and effective communication. This course can help you build your influence and become a better communicator.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including clients, team members, and vendors. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as project managers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help project managers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including clients, customers, and the media. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as marketing managers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help marketing managers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Event Planner

Event Planners are responsible for planning and executing events. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including clients, vendors, and attendees. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as event planners need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help event planners develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating a team of sales representatives. They develop and implement sales strategies, and track and measure sales performance. Interpersonal skills are essential for success in this role, as sales managers need to be able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflict. This course can help sales managers develop the skills they need to be successful.

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Communication Specialist

Communication Specialists are responsible for planning, developing, and executing communication strategies. These strategies can be both internal and external, and aim to enhance the organization's brand and reputation. Those who excel in this role and want to take their career to the next level build a foundation by taking courses in interpersonal skills. This course, specifically, can help Communication Specialists increase their influence, mediate conflict, and become better communicators, all of which contribute to success in this field.

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