The Secret to Thriving at Work? Mastering Interpersonal Skills.

He was the kind of employee everyone relied on. The fixer. The problem solver. The one who delivered under pressure every time.

Deadlines? Always met. Technical expertise? Second to none.

But something was still off. His ideas were met with silence in meetings. Team projects felt like pushing a boulder uphill. And the camaraderie, the trust, just wasn’t there.

The problem? It wasn’t his technical skills. It was his lack of interpersonal skills.

And here’s the hard truth many professionals overlook. Companies might hire you for your technical expertise, but they will fire you for poor interpersonal skills. In fact, 78% of employers admit to hiring a technically skilled candidate who later failed because they lacked soft skills^[1]. 

Your ability to connect with others, communicate effectively, and thrive in a team setting is just as important, if not more so, than your expertise. Most employers aren’t just looking for a talented individual. They’re looking for someone who can build relationships, foster trust, and collaborate seamlessly, a priority so critical that 60% of hiring managers report soft skills have become more essential in the last five years^[1].

Interpersonal skills aren’t just “nice-to-have.” They’re career essentials.

What are interpersonal skills, and why do they matter?

At their core, interpersonal skills are the behaviors that influence how you interact and build relationships with others. Often called “soft skills” or “people skills,” they go far beyond the workplace. They affect the way you communicate, collaborate, and resolve conflicts, whether with teammates, managers, clients, or even outside of work.  

But don’t be fooled by the term “soft.” These skills are the foundation of professional growth and high-performing teams. Leaders, collaborators, and team players all rely on a robust set of interpersonal skills to navigate workplace relationships effectively.

Key examples of interpersonal skills:

• Active listening  
• Verbal and nonverbal communication  
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ)  
• Conflict resolution  
• Teamwork and collaboration  

Soft skill-intensive roles aren’t just growing, they’re shaping the future of work. By 2030, they’re projected to make up two-thirds of all jobs (World Economic Forum), growing at twice the pace of other professions. The best part? These skills are highly transferable, equipping you to adapt, thrive, and succeed across roles, industries, and even careers. Investing in them now means future-proofing your career for whatever comes next.

What do strong interpersonal skills look like?

To see the value of interpersonal skills in action, it helps to break them down into what works, what doesn’t, and actionable ways to improve. Whether you’re working to strengthen an existing ability or develop something new, there’s always room for growth.

Skill	What strong skills look like	When it misses the mark	How to improve
Communication	Clear, concise, and tailored to your audience	Rambles or lacks clarity; misses the point of the discussion	Take time to organize your thoughts and focus on simplifying your message. Practice delivering key ideas confidently.
Active Listening	Fully engaged, empathetic and responsive	Interrupts often or listens simply to reply	Stay present, ask follow-ups, and paraphrase what you’ve heard to confirm understanding.
Emotional Intelligence	Recognizes and manages emotions (yours and others’) effectively	Becomes reactive or ignores others’ feelings	Practice empathy; reflect on emotional triggers and learn to respond calmly.
Conflict Resolution	De-escalates tensions with a solution-focused mindset	Avoids conflict entirely or escalates unnecessarily	Approach disagreements with curiosity; frame conversations around mutual goals.
Team Collaboration	Actively contributes while empowering others	Dominates tasks or remains disengaged	Focus on shared successes; support teammates and celebrate collective wins.

Why are interpersonal skills essential for career success?

These skills are more than just a workplace buzzword. They drive success at every level. Here’s why mastering them is necessary for individuals and teams alike:

1. They create leaders. 

Technical skills can make you competent, but interpersonal skills make you inspiring. Teams thrive under leaders who listen, empathize, and motivate. 

For example, a team leader who listens to feedback, rather than just giving it, fosters trust and better results.

2. They increase job longevity.

A lack of soft skills often leads to miscommunication and conflict, which can hinder long-term career success. Strong interpersonal skills ensure you’re not just doing the work, you’re doing it in a way that builds strong foundations for the future.

3. They improve workplace dynamics. 

Interpersonal skills create harmonious, collaborative, and productive teams. Without them, disconnection and inefficiency set in.

4. They build your professional reputation. 

People remember how you made them feel. Interpersonal skills bolster your image as someone approachable and reliable, an essential trait for career longevity.

Common challenges with interpersonal skills at work

While interpersonal skills are essential, they’re not always easy to develop. Complex workplace dynamics can sometimes create barriers that make even basic interactions challenging. Let’s explore some common obstacles professionals face and how they impact team dynamics.

• Miscommunication: This can be especially common in written formats, where a lack of nonverbal communication or vocal tone can make messages come across in unintended ways. Misunderstandings can also arise due to cultural differences if one person perceives the other as rude. 
• Lack of empathy or awareness: Lacking empathy or self-awareness can lead to communication and relationship breakdowns. If you fail to empathize with a colleague on an issue, you might come across as abrasive or uncaring, which may lead them to disengage from you or decide to avoid you. Conflicts may also go unresolved when one or both parties refuse to empathize.
• Navigating difficult personalities: Some people struggle with interpersonal awareness more than others and may inadvertently cross boundaries or offend colleagues. Working with them can become difficult or unpleasant, hindering teamwork and collaboration. In these cases, it’s necessary to remain patient with the offending party and set clear, firm boundaries. 
• Fear of conflict: Some conflict-averse people may struggle to speak honestly because they’re worried about the aftereffects or upsetting the other party. However, open communication without fear of judgment is vital to collaborative workplaces. Not speaking up when something seems wrong or you disagree can lead to poor team outcomes and resentment.

Recognizing these challenges is the first step to addressing them. Now, let’s dive into how you can improve your interpersonal skills. 

How to Improve Your Interpersonal Skills in 5 Steps

The great news? Interpersonal skills are entirely learnable. With consistent effort, you can make tangible progress:

1. Use online learning with Role Play to build practical skills

Online courses are a fantastic way to learn without disrupting your schedule. They give you flexibility to work through content at your own pace while still introducing actionable strategies to develop key interpersonal skills. But simply absorbing the material isn’t enough. Practice is essential. That’s where simulations and role-playing exercises make a difference.

Udemy offers a variety of courses that focus on hands-on practice, with our new Role Play simulations, to help you develop and apply your skills in real-world situations. Here are a few standout options:

• The Power of Deep Listening (Using Active Listening Skills): This course teaches you how to actively listen and uncover deeper meaning in conversations. Role-playing exercises help simulate real-life situations so that you can strengthen this critical skill through practice.
• Become a Master at Conflict Management at Home or Work. Learn how to address disagreements constructively while maintaining positive relationships. This course includes actionable strategies and Role Plays to practice.
• Developing Emotional Intelligence in Teams. Enhance your social skills, emotional resilience, and ability to work in team dynamics. Practice scenarios are included to help you apply this knowledge to group settings.

2. Practice Active Listening

For many, listening means planning their response or getting mentally sidetracked, rather than truly focusing on the other person. Active listening changes that by requiring your full attention and engagement.

Here’s how to practice it:

1. Give your full attention. Put distractions aside, like your phone or laptop, and maintain eye contact with open body language.
2. Observe tone and body language. Notice if they seem frustrated, uncertain, or seeking support.
3. Don’t interrupt. Resist the urge to jump in or offer advice prematurely. Just listen.
4. Summarize. Reflect what you heard with a comment like, “Sounds like client feedback isn’t aligning with the brief. Is that right?”
5. Confirm and ask follow-ups. Clarify their needs with questions like, “How can I help move this forward for you?”

By practicing these steps, you’ll not only improve your listening skills but also demonstrate to others that they’re heard and valued, fostering better communication and trust in the process.

3. Seek Feedback Regularly

The people you work with are often the best mirrors for your interpersonal skills. Asking for feedback, both on your strengths and areas for improvement, can provide invaluable insights.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

1. Start with trusted colleagues or mentors. Ask direct and specific questions like, “How can I contribute more effectively during team meetings?” or “What could I do to communicate better?”
2. Be open to constructive criticism. Feedback isn’t always easy to hear, but it’s crucial for growth. Avoid reacting defensively and focus on understanding their perspective.
3. Show appreciation. Thank them for their honesty, even if the feedback is tough.
4. Reflect and apply. Take time to evaluate the input and identify one or two actionable steps to improve.

Seeking regular feedback not only helps you grow, but it also shows others you value their input, building trust and stronger workplace relationships.

4. Participate in Networking Events

Building your interpersonal skills often begins with stepping outside your comfort zone, and networking is an ideal way to do so. By attending workshops, professional events, or joining networking groups, you can engage in discussions, practice public speaking, and connect with like-minded professionals.

Whether online or in person, these events offer a chance to apply your skills in real-time while expanding your professional circle. Local meetups in major cities are a great place to start, but virtual groups and forums also provide accessible ways to network from anywhere.

5. Set Skill-Driven Goals

The best way to improve any skill is with consistent practice, and interpersonal skills are no exception. By setting specific, achievable goals, you can work on strengthening areas where you struggle.

Here are some actionable goals to try:

• Start meaningful conversations. Challenge yourself to connect with at least one person every day.
• Ask clarifying questions. During your next workplace meeting, aim to ask one thoughtful question to ensure understanding.
• Step into conflict resolution. Volunteer to help mediate or lead discussions during a team disagreement.
• Practice constructive feedback. Use your next one-on-one meeting to offer supportive but actionable feedback to a colleague.

These small, intentional steps not only improve specific skills but also build confidence, making better communication a natural part of your routine.

Interpersonal Skills in a remote work world

Working remotely can lead to more miscommunications and struggles than working from the same office. This highlights the importance of interpersonal skills, particularly in areas such as communication and collaboration.

Increased reliance on clear messaging

Much of a person’s intent when communicating verbally comes from body language. You might ignore it consciously, but your mind still processes how someone presents themselves when interacting. It’s much easier to miss cues during communication when you’re not face-to-face with each other.

To get around this, communicate more deliberately. Focus on written communication that features a professional tone and uses clear, intentional language.

Emotional cues are harder to read

Written language can sometimes come across as dismissive. For example, maybe your colleague sent you a plan for an upcoming project. Responding with “Great idea” and a thumbs-up emoji could be considered passive-aggressive (especially by younger generations) when you genuinely meant what you said.

When you’re unsure about tone or the emotions behind the written text, don’t hesitate to ask. Actively checking in helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps everyone on the same page. 

Building rapport takes effort

In a traditional, in-person workplace, you interact with your team throughout the day, often on a more personal level. Maybe you have a quick conversation about an upcoming life event while waiting for the elevator or compliment a colleague on their new haircut. These small interactions help build rapport naturally. 

In a remote setting, those opportunities for human connection are fewer and farther between. It becomes harder to connect and relate when the only time you interact is through writing and about work. Try scheduling video calls over email whenever possible, and don’t underestimate the power of a little small talk and empathy at the beginning or end.  

Tips for applying interpersonal skills remotely

Applying interpersonal skills remotely can be difficult due to a disconnect in nonverbal communication. Even on a video call, you can’t see the other party’s entire body or the nonverbal cues they’re displaying. It becomes even more challenging through written mediums. 

Follow these tips to improve remote interpersonal skills:

• Always practice active listening during video or phone calls.
• After a meeting, follow up with a clear written summary to confirm you’re on the same page.
• When communicating, ask open-ended questions to encourage conversation and build relationships.
• Deliberately acknowledge and validate others’ emotions, even in text. 

The Bottom Line

Interpersonal skills are the glue that holds teams and businesses together. While technical expertise gets your foot in the door, your ability to connect, communicate, and collaborate determines how far you’ll actually go.

Want to thrive in your role? Start listening more deeply, resolving conflicts thoughtfully, and communicating with impact. These small shifts can spark significant results, not just for your job but for your entire career trajectory.

Interpersonal Skills FAQs

1. Why do people get “fired for poor interpersonal skills”?

A lack of communication and conflict resolution skills often leads to misunderstandings, workplace tension, and lower morale, which can hinder a team’s effectiveness.

2. Are interpersonal skills more valuable than technical skills?

They’re equally important. Technical skills get you the job, but interpersonal skills help you work effectively and grow as a professional.

3. How long does it take to improve interpersonal skills?

Results vary, but with consistent daily practice, such as actively listening and seeking feedback, you can notice improvements within a few weeks.

4. What’s one easy skill to start improving today?

Focus on active listening. During your next conversation, set aside distractions, listen attentively, and confirm your understanding.

[1] https://www.testgorilla.com/skills-based-hiring/state-of-skills-based-hiring-2025/