When you start out in your career, your technical skills in your chosen field are very important. You’re likely working hands-on, using the training and knowledge that got you to this point. For example, a junior procurement specialist might spend their day analysing supplier bids, managing purchase orders, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies.
As you start to move up in the organisation and into a leadership role, you’ll rely on your technical skills less – and your interpersonal and intrapersonal skills become extremely important.
What’s the difference between interpersonal skills and intrapersonal skills?
Interpersonal skills are those we use for communication and managing relationships, such as effective communication, active listening, giving and receiving feedback effectively, leadership and the ability to motivate others.
Intrapersonal skills are what we use for self-management: resilience and the ability to manage stress, time management, confidence, self-regulation and emotional intelligence.
Why do interpersonal and intrapersonal skills matter more as you progress?
As you move up your organisation, your role becomes more strategic. It’s not just your output that matters – it’s your ability to manage the output of your team, keeping them happy, motivated and skilled at the same time. You’ll spend less time on day-to-day operations, and more time on interactions that require a high level of interpersonal skills, building relationships and negotiating with clients or suppliers.
Of course, intrapersonal skills like good time management and an ability to manage stress are important for everyone, wherever you are in your career – but when you’re in a strategic and leadership role, your inter- and intra-personal skills have a greater effect on an organisation’s bottom line, and with increased pressure that comes with more responsibility, it’s important that you can self-manage – and manage those around you.
From negotiation to motivation, here’s why these inter- and intrapersonal skills matter more as you progress.
Negotiation
Negotiation skills are critical for any leadership role, whether you’re in sales, procurement, or HR. Interpersonal skills like clear communication and active listening help you understand the needs and perspectives of suppliers and partners (which in turn helps you build good relationships with those partners) while intrapersonal skills like confidence and emotional intelligence help you stay composed and strategic during tough negotiations or difficult conversations.
Managing and motivating your team
As a leader, your ability to effectively motivate your team and keep the lines of communication open will directly correlate to your team’s success. Interpersonal skills are essential for building trust, giving constructive feedback, and creating a culture of civility and inclusivity. Intrapersonal skills, such as emotional intelligence, help you understand your team’s dynamics and address any issues proactively. By fostering a positive work environment, you can keep your team engaged and productive.
Managing your own increased workload
With leadership comes a heavier workload and more complex responsibilities. Effective time management is crucial to help you handle the increased demands on your time. Setting priorities, delegating tasks, and maintaining a work-life balance are all intrapersonal skills that help you manage your workload efficiently. This ensures you can focus on strategic initiatives without becoming overwhelmed.
Handling high-pressure situations
Leadership roles often involve high-pressure situations that require quick decision-making and problem-solving. Intrapersonal skills like resilience and stress management help you stay calm and focused under pressure. These skills enable you to make well-considered decisions, maintain your composure, and lead your team effectively through challenging times.
Both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills are critical as you advance in your career. While technical skills lay the foundation, it’s your ability to manage yourself and your relationships with others that will determine your long-term success. By developing these skills, you can unlock your leadership capabilities, drive organisational success, and create a positive, productive work environment.
I developed the Developing Procurement Talent programme to help procurement teams build these interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, and maximise their procurement power. You can find out more about the Developing Procurement Talent programme here – or feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
Good leadership is a skill that comes naturally for some, and less easily for others – but it can be taught. It comes down to good communication, an ability to really listen, being able to plan strategically and take decisive action, and the ability to get others on board with your plans. As we look towards a flexible and remote working future with many teams now split across multiple locations, good leadership is more important than ever to keep teams motivated, happy and productive.
Good leadership skills are essential for managers, directors, and business owners, but being a good leader will stand you in good stead in many other areas of your life. The communication skills that enable you to manage a team or direct a company will help you in your personal relationships: you’ll listen better and empathise more. Decisiveness and strategic planning will help you pin down and execute personal goals. Being able to guide a team through periods of change will in turn make you more able to weather change and disruption in your own life.
Leadership training forms a large part of the online learning, training and coaching packages we put together for businesses here at Evolve Online Learning and Evolution. Whether you’re looking to improve your leadership skills at work, or for your own personal development, here are our top six tips for becoming a better leader.
1. Communication is key. Being able to build rapport is a valuable skill: it’ll make people much more likely to see your point of view and get on board with your way of thinking. If you consistently find that people fail to deliver what you’re asking of them, it’s likely that you’re not communicating in the right way.
2. Listen. Listening is just as important as speaking when it comes to communication. What does your team need? What would make them more productive? Do they feel supported? Everyone is different, and being able to understand individual needs and ways of communicating will help you get the best out of your team in the long run.
3. Model the behaviour of others. If there’s a colleague, a friend or a public figure whose leadership skills you really admire, work out what it is they do that makes them successful – and replicate that behaviour. If you find that tricky, try business coaching: a trained coach will have spent years studying and modelling behaviour that works, and will help you apply those skills to your own life.
4. Learn to manage change. Change is an inescapable part of business, and you can’t avoid it. Learning to guide your team or your business through periods of change is essential; if you can use change to develop, grow and evolve, you’ll thrive.
5. Have a clear vision. Good strategic planning will give you a clear plan for your business, so that you can provide clear direction to your team.
6. Spend time on your own personal development. Know your own strengths and weaknesses: where do you need support? Where could you improve? Working on your own goals will set a good example for your team, and it’ll make you a better leader in the long run. Being able to manage your time, be more resilient, and manage your stress levels will take the strain out of leadership and allow you to focus on the work that really matters.
If you’d like to develop your leadership skills even further, have a look at the courses available on our online academy. If you’re looking for business leadership training, get in touch to discuss how we can help.
This post was originally posted on our business coaching and training site, Evolution. Read the original here.