people skills
Interpersonal communication ability
People skills are abilities that help you interact effectively with others—listening, communicating clearly, reading social cues, managing conflict, and putting people at ease.
The term typically appears in professional contexts: Her people skills make her ideal for client-facing roles.
Someone with strong people skills navigates relationships smoothly; someone lacking them comes across as awkward or abrasive.
Relationships between things
- minglingCasual social interaction
- introductionsInitial formal presentations
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
follow-ups · referrals · icebreaking · outreach · schmoozing · contacts · circulating · handshaking
Express clearly, or well-spoken
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- active listeningFocused, responsive attention to speech
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- clarityState of being understandable
assertiveness · diplomacy · feedback · tact · eloquence · dialogue · conflict resolution · verbal
Concern for others' distress
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- emotional intelligenceCapacity for managing feelings
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- patienceCalm during delays
perspective-taking · kindness · supportive · perceptive · intuition · tolerance · nonjudgmental · caring
Joint intellectual work
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
adaptability · reliability · flexibility · peer support · inclusivity · group dynamics · consensus-building · shared goals
Impetus toward a goal
- influencePower to affect others
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
inspiration · coaching · guidance · vision · decision-making · accountability · team-building · morale
connections
Relationships between things
- minglingCasual social interaction
- introductionsInitial formal presentations
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
socializing · follow-ups · referrals · icebreaking · outreach · schmoozing · contacts · circulating · handshaking · meet-and-greet
articulate
Express clearly, or well-spoken
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- active listeningFocused, responsive attention to speech
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
clarity · assertiveness · diplomacy · feedback · tact · eloquence · dialogue · conflict resolution · verbal · nonverbal
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- emotional intelligenceCapacity for managing feelings
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
patience · perspective-taking · kindness · supportive · perceptive · intuition · tolerance · nonjudgmental · caring · consideration
collaboration
Joint intellectual work
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
camaraderie · adaptability · reliability · flexibility · peer support · inclusivity · group dynamics · consensus-building · shared goals · accountability
motivation
Impetus toward a goal
- influencePower to affect others
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
delegation · inspiration · coaching · guidance · vision · decision-making · accountability · team-building · morale · empowerment
- likable traitsfriendliness, amiability, affability, agreeableness, likability
- sociabilityfriendliness, sociability, extroversion, congeniality, affability
- skillsskill, ability, abilities, competencies, talent
- awarenessalertness, aware, attention, cognizance, conscious
- expertiseexpertise, skill, mastery, proficiency, competence
- practical knowledgefolk medicine, home economics, self-help, street smarts, common sense
people skillssocial awkwardness
tone-deafness · lack of empathy · abrasiveness · tactlessness · misanthropy
people skillstechnical skills
Measurable job-specific abilities
hard skills · technical expertise · analytical skills · mechanical aptitude · book smarts