Use Relationship Skills to Stand Out in The Workplace


The author Phyllis Davis suggests eight different ways for managers to charm their employees in his article “8 ways to charm your employees”. Davis starts his article by reminding us that everyone wants to be recognized in his/her field. He says that professional people should try to rise above their feeling and work by achieving the goals of their jobs. To do that, professionals or managers should master the leadership sills to become admired and trusted by their employees. As a result, employees will be loyal to their managers and they will all try to reach that manager’s position by increasing their productivity. However, Davis raises a question saying “Do you consider it manipulative to practice high levels of rapport skills related to verbal and nonverbal communication for effective leadership?” so basically he is wondering if it’s really important to have high level of relationship skills with employees to gain a certain position. He answers by saying that many businesses spend millions to equip employees with important skills to help them become productive.

Anyhow, Davis suggests some tips that help to create good relationships, and loyalty in the workplace.

1. Watch the way your standing: men usually stand side by side while talking while women usually face each others. Also, when a gentleman approaches another gentleman, he should face him with an angle. When approaching a lady, he should move his torso to stand face to face.
2. Put a spotlight on everyone you’re speaking to: instead of entertaining your employees with your ales and experiences, use active-listening skills to explore them and benefit form their comments.
3. Avoid touching yourself while talking to others: when touch yourself your indicating that you’re relaxed, so it tells others that you’re not really paying attention.
4. Smile while you are talking: it’s powerful to smile while you’re speaking to others.
5. Subtly mirror people's gestures when you're speaking to them: and while mirroring, be very graceful and move very slowly; show that you are making nature movement and not mirroring.
6. Talk 20 percent of the time and listen 80 percent of the time: while people are talking, ask them questions and nod positively as they speak, and don’t interrupt them until they finish talking. When listening most of the time, you’re in control of people’s conversations.
7. Avoid offering unsolicited advice in public or in private: try to avoid giving advices that people didn’t ask for. Giving advice sometimes tells the listeners that they wrong somehow. You can give advice indirectly by some for example “That’s another way of looking at it”
8. Thank people at the job they’ve done: some people like being thanked for stuff they’ve done, but avoid commenting them personally, some people might perceive it as harassment.