5 Characteristics of Strong People Skills
In the competitive financial industry, how can you differentiate yourself from your peers? Many of them have solid financial background and qualifications, just like you. If you and your peers offer similar level of value to the organization, how do you rise above the competition to get the promotion during the good times and keep your job during cutbacks? Having superior social skills will distinguish you from your peers. It is not a skill you can develop overnight and neither are good connections. Here are five attributes to help your colleagues better know you, like you and trust you.
Positive attitude – Everybody prefers to work with someone who is enthusiastic than one who complains. Do you embrace new responsibilities or do you grumble about having too much work? Do you see challenges as opportunities or threats? Are you a proactive action taker or are you easily influenced by negative events? Be sure that you are part of the solution and not part of the problem. Take initiatives and be willing to exceed expectations of your colleagues.
Emotional maturity – It is understandable that a financial analyst is stressed out under the intensity of work. Be responsible for your own your own feelings and keep them under control in the workplace. Take an honest look at yourself. Are you quick tempered? Do you act on impulses often? Do you express your emotions and vent out your frustrations in healthy ways? Exercise, rest and relaxation are just a few simple ways you can release tension. It you want to go far in your career, emotional maturity is critical quality to have.
Empathy – This is the ability to identify and understand the wants, needs and perspective of others. If you remember that your fellow co-workers are under work pressure just like you and some may even have their personal struggles to deal with, you can be more understanding of their seemingly unfriendly behavior. Empathetic people are often good listeners who can recognize the underlying wants and needs of others. Empathy is a basic quality of an excellent leader and is the foundation for developing strong people relationships.
Team player – Share your knowledge with your colleagues. It may be counter-intuitive to help your co-workers when some, like you, may be vying for the same position that will open up. Helping your team and its members achieve their goals will earn you the support and respect of others. Although you will be evaluated based on your individual performance, you belong to a team. When you help to give solutions to your team members, they will also reciprocate the support when you are in need.
Network – Do you consistently and intentionally develop your network? A network is not something you can develop overnight. The more people you connect with, the wider your network for information, ideas and potential opportunities. Do many people know about your quality work and great work attitude? Does anyone know about your work achievements? Be authentic but do not brag. Networking is the opportunity to apply the people skills that you have developed.
Know yourself first. Observe and see how you currently interact with people. This is a good way to enhance your interpersonal skills. Are you welcome by your co-workers or do they tend to exclude you? Where do you have room for improvement? Do you complain and whine often and have a negative attitude? What are the qualities that people like about you? Keep them up.
A crucial factor in differentiating you from you peer financial analysts is your people skills. The first candidate to be considered when a position opens up is a positive team player and who can understand the wants and needs of others. It helps when there are many people who know about these valuable qualities of yours. You can be sure the unfriendly individual who is clueless about people skills will be among the first on the hit list when the time comes for cutbacks.
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