Why Does My Boss Keep Advising Me to Improve My People Skills?

Have you ever wondered why your boss keeps advising you to improve your people skills? This recurring suggestion might be a clue that you could benefit from honing this area. Your boss likely believes that better people skills can enhance your relationships with him or her, as well as with your colleagues and clients. By improving these skills, you can become more influential and effective in your interactions.

Understanding Your Boss’s Motivation

One of the best ways to address this issue is by asking your boss about their motivation for these suggestions. By practicing active listening, you can gather valuable information that can help you gauge what your boss is hoping to achieve. There could be several reasons behind this advice:

Preparing you for a promotion Helping you improve your overall performance Managing unhappy clients by addressing their concerns Improving internal team dynamics

Without more details from your boss, we can only speculate. However, whether or not you think the advice is sound, it's always wise to approach such feedback with gratitude and openness. Thank your boss for the guidance, seek specific help and resources, and make the most of any offers they make.

Recognizing Different Dynamics and Types of Intelligence

People have different dynamics, tendencies, and types of intelligence. Some individuals are naturally inclined to socialize, while others prefer focusing on numerical data and statistics. Each of us has varying interests and it is not set in stone. We can work on improving certain aspects of our skills or behavior.

There are numerous self-help books and TED Talks that can guide you in this journey. One such resource is a TedEx video by Matthew Hussey, who explains the difference between introverts and extraverts. Hussey highlights how an introverted approach to socializing can be misunderstood, but it can be effective and even more captivating in the right context. For example:

“There was a guy who tried to talk to a girl, and he did it in a very quiet, absent, and introverted way. And he said ‘No, I am not an introvert, I am boring.’” This viewpoint is misleading. We all need to socialize and make connections. Social skills are crucial for survival in a professional environment.

Just because you are not a natural chatterbox, it doesn’t mean you can't develop better people skills. You can make changes to advance your career. Your coworker who was initially quiet and reserved demonstrated that these skills can be cultivated. After setting new goals and staying true to herself, she became one of the most successful dispatchers in her company.

Dispatching requires a wide array of social skills, including negotiation, convincing, and making over 2000 calls per day. By understanding the value of social skills and setting goals to improve, you can not only enhance your job performance but also stay true to yourself.

Conclusion

Improving your people skills is not just about becoming more chatty; it's about becoming more effective in personal and professional interactions. Regardless of your natural tendencies, you can develop and refine your social skills with time and effort. By taking your boss’s advice seriously and working to improve your interpersonal abilities, you will not only enhance your professional relationships but also demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth.