There's an inherent paradox in the way we deal with people: mostly we're unable to do so in the way we expect others to deal with us.
 When asked: how do you like to be spoken to?
- 50 000 people have given exactly the same answers : simple, clear, precise, direct and concise... and with courtesy, respect, politeness, warmth, a smile...
How do people actually speak to you?
- All too often, circumstances dictate that people use: suggestion, deviation, aggression, implication, allusion, manipulation...
Clearly, there's room for improvement!
Dealing with people is evidently a skill we either need to acquire quickly or at the very least improve! The way we deal with other people within and outside the organisation represents a huge source for potential improvement in a company's performance. Improving relationships between people is the most important source of productivity gains for the least cost. Whatever an employee's function, his or her ability to perform it depends on 3 skill sets:
- Knowing the actual job
- Knowing the processes and methods
- Knowing how to deal with others
Our observations suggest that more and more it is the ability to deal with others which makes the difference. It is only through people skills that the other skill sets can be applied. Colleagues and customers no longer respect rank or title; they respect ability and talent.
Dealing with people is a skill that can be learned
A talent for dealing with people is not the exclusive preserve of a few "characters"; it's a skill we can all develop without having to change our personalities.
People skills can be mastered and can be improved
Doing so is a question of applying consciously and rigorously existing behavioural instincts which currently we are only applying occasionally and unconsciously.
Everyone has the capacity to train, to practice and to improve.
To achieve what?
To put one's emotions to work rather than being a victim of them!
It is the exchange of emotions which creates relationships, which "weaves" the links between people. Emotions are objective facts in a relationship. When we try to get rid of them, or 'play tough' to not show them... we are wasting energy, taking a lot of risks and losing opportunities.
People who receive our training act more consistently:
- They use their emotions with both rigour and spontaneity,
- They are able to make use, freely and accurately, of what they feel when the other person speaks
- They use their emotions to help reach their objectives.
And as a result, they are able to be:
- direct without being brutal
- precise without being complicated
- seductive without acting like a seducer
In other words, achieve a balance between productivity and comfort
What does this help them to achieve?
- know how to take a firm position
- cut to the essential
- dare to say what's on their mind, without making value judgements
- conduct meetings which lead inexorably to the attainment of
a concrete goal:the objective.
- invest a little time before the meeting to gain a lot of time during the meeting
- transform a meeting into a concrete action plan
|
Training to increase the people skills of directors, managers and sales and operational staff at all levels 
