Can you remember a moment when someone made you feel seen and valued in a conversation? Do you remember a time when someone didn’t?

As the great Maya Angelou once said:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

One of the most important skills we can carry with us in both our personal and professional lives is our people skills. These are the skills that make people feel something when we speak to them. They connect us in a world that is riddled with disconnect, virtual this and virtual that. Our modern day isn’t bad, but it certainly doesn’t help us hone the interpersonal skillset that makes up the fabric of our interactions at every turn.

Hopefully by now you’ve thought of a moment where someone made you feel the difference between having people skills and not having them. If you’ve thought of your example, hold onto it as a moment to try and emulate in your own life.

At the end of day, we’re people dealing with people. Whether it’s a high stakes business negotiation, a meeting or a networking event …these skills will set you apart from every one else in the room. People will remember you not because of what you said but because of how you connected to them when you said it. This skillset lies within all of, but is often left untapped or underdeveloped.

At the core of my work and practice are launching and refining these skills. Sharpen your people skills and watch the big changes happen all around you.