The Value of Being A People Person - Why You Need “People Skills”

Some people are so skilled at working with People that they ought to be in a relationship hall of fame. People such as Dale Carnegie, John Wooden, Ronald Reagan, and Norman Vincent Peale easily come to mind. Likewise there are people whose relational abilities could make them candidates for a relational hall of shame. Leona Helmsley, Henry Ford (Sr.), Frank Lorenzo, and Dennis Rodman have such reputations.

Hey, you don't have go into history books before you readily find some examples of these relational extremes. You actually have them in your own life everyday: on the street, at church, (maybe at home), and most definitely at your workplace. Interview entrepreneurs to find out what separates successes from failure and they'll tell you its "skill with people". Top sales people will also tell you its "People skills" first, then product knowledge. Teachers, Parents, Pastors, Tradesmen will equally tell you that people skills make the difference between those who excel and those who don't.

"It doesn't matter what you want to do. If you can win with people, you can win"- J.C. Maxwell

Many people fall into the trap of taking relationships for granted. That's not good because our ability to build and maintain healthy relationships is the single most important factor in how we get along in every area of life.

Our people skills determine our potential for success.

According to Robert W. Woodruff, (The man whose leadership transformed Coca-cola company from a small, regional beverage producer to a global operation and financial powerhouse said this:   

"Life is pretty much a selling job. Whether we succeed or fail is largely a matter of how well we motivate the human beings with whom we deal to “buy” us and what we offer. Success or failure on any job or project is essentially a matter of HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS. It is a matter of the kind of reaction to us by our family members, customers, employees, employers, and fellow workers and associates. If this reaction is favorable we are quite likely to succeed. If the reaction is unfavourable we are doomed"- From Zig Ziglar's book "Top Performance".

All of life's successes come from initiating relationships with the right people and then strengthening those relationships by using good people skills.

Leke Oshiyemi-Inspired by readings from John C. Maxwell.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN