Interpersonal Skills Practicum in LPSCS

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Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Positive Personal Traits Good relationships at work can help you enjoy your work and do it more effectively Assess your own traits as a starting point to developing good work relationships Self-awareness means that you are aware of your strengths and your weaknesses, which will help you develop the personal traits that need improvement 3

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Positive Personal Traits (continued) Important personal qualities – Responsibility – dependability, punctuality, and positive motivation – Self-esteem – confidence – Sociability Be friendly and enthusiastic Respect others Have a sense of humor and be able to laugh at yourself Be courteous – Greet coworkers – Address people by their names when possible – Be aware of your surroundings so you don’t talk so loudly that you disturb others – Self-management – self-control and tact – Integrity and honesty – loyalty and trustworthiness – Appropriate dress 4

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Being An Effective Coworker Working effectively with others is part of doing your job well Essential traits for being an effective coworker: – Respect others (tolerate differences, respect privacy) – Understand others (show interest in your coworkers, empathize, be open to suggestions, pay attention to body language) – Communication skills (listen well, be clear, speak up) 5

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Negative Traits and Habits To Avoid Arrogance – conveys that you feel superior to others Prejudice – a negative attitude toward a certain group of people Jealousy – can be damaging in the workplace Negative attitude and complaining Revealing too much about your private life Gossiping – wastes time and can result in rumors Interrupting private conversations 6

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Valuing Diversity Today’s workforce is becoming more diverse, with people from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, and generations The workplace can benefit from the ideas and perspectives of many different people – Working with people who are different from us makes us less likely to rely on old assumptions that might be wrong – Opens us up to considering new ideas and points of view – Leads to new discoveries 7

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Valuing Diversity (continued) Respecting differences (culture, religion, age, gender, viewpoint) – Aids in communication – Shows that you are part of a community of workers with common needs and goals – Helps employees relate to each other and be more accommodating to others; this spills over to the people they serve 8

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Valuing Diversity (continued) To take advantage of a diverse workforce, look beyond stereotypes – Cultural differences – Gender distinctions – Generational distinctions 9

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Resources , Succeeding in the World of Work, Kimbrell, McGraw-Hill, , Working, Bailey, South- Western,