TITLE OF PAPER: A REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF INTERPERSONAL SKILLS IN TEAM BUILDING

Author: Dr Sanjeevni Gangwani, Associate Professor, Medicaps Institute of Technology and Management, (MITM) Indore. Co-Author: Nishant Pathak, Student,MITM,Indore.

INTRODUCTION
The term "Interpersonal Skills" is used often in business contexts to refer to the measure of a person's ability to operate within business organizations through social communication and interactions. Thus Interpersonal skills are how people relate to one another Interpersonal skills are those which all employers look in the employees to meet the organizational objective and this is much easier when the team members are effective enough to convey and translate information to each other. Theoretical and technological advancement is not only enough in employees.

SIGNIFICANCE
Having positive interpersonal skills increases the productivity in the organization since the number of conflicts is reduced. In Informal situations, it allows communication to be easy and comfortable. People with good interpersonal skills can generally control the feelings that emerge in difficult situations and respond appropriately, instead of being overwhelmed by emotion. Leadership, networking and teamwork contribute towards the development of interpersonal skills.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Interpersonal interactions have been found to influence organizational functioning, directly or indirectly (e.g., Gabarro, 1976; Pestonjee, 1992; Rao, 1987). Srilata (1988), for example, found that personality characteristics and the interpersonal behavioral style of the supervisor contributed to the subordinate's experience of organizational stress. Organizational stress was found to be negatively associated with organizational effectiveness (Khanna, 1985). Rao and Selvan (1992) found that both managers as well as subordinates, in their independent responses to the question of what in their opinion contributed to managerial effectiveness, indicated "interpersonal relationships" as the most important factor.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The role of interpersonal skills in other models of consultation, such as organizational development or expert models has not been explored. It is also worth noting at this juncture that the research on interpersonal skills in consultation has been influenced not only by the humanistic tradition (e.g., Carkhuff & Truax, 1967; Rogers, 1961), which focuses on positive regard, personal congruence, and genuineness, but also by a behavioral perspective that emphasizes skills (Bergan & Tombari, 1975, 1976). A synthesis of these two approaches to looking at the importance of interpersonal skills in team building is made in the Conclusion.

OBJECTIVES
To identify the interpersonal skills necessary for team building through secondary data and literature review. To find out that whether interpersonal skills play a major role in working in teams or groups and conflict management. To bring about an understanding of the importance of interpersonal skills in both professional and personal lives

The following Interpersonal Skills were identified as Necessary For Team Building
1 Consensual Decision Making Skills 2 Dialogue and Discussion Skills 3 Maintenance Skills 4 Conflict Resolution Skills 5 Team Leadership Skills

Consensual Decision Making Skills

Levels All team member agree and no more information needed Clarifying the information Differentiating between main and supporting ideas Agree on hierarchy within a set of ideas Understanding well the activities needed to solve a problem.

Dialogue and Discussion Skills

Dialogue
A process that builds shared meanings and define the problem within a group must be nurtured not forced true facilitation not manipulation Dialogue is not used for the purpose of making a decision. Two effective procedures that enhance dialogue are: Brain streaming and clarification.

Dialogue and Discussion Skills

Discussion Should follow dialogue makes thought process visible allows assumptions to the surface useful in clustering items together into categories prioritizing items as to their relevance to the problem

Maintenance Skills
Each members commitment to the project, task, and team level of affective development including feelings of trust, belonging, and work relationships the teams efficacy ability to resolve conflict Feedback : absence may cause ; problem fester rise in resentment and increase in frustration. Debriefing .

Conflict Resolution Skills

Focusing on the process and not the people as the source of conflict. Providing a safe, non-threatening environment that allows conflict to surface and be resolved. Developing common team purposes and goals. Building shared meanings and perspectives. Instituting a common approach to solving problems and accomplishing team tasks. Emphasizing collaboration. Understanding differences in how individuals gather and analyze data (i.e. thinking styles).

Team Leadership Skills

Traditional views of a leaders role should be modified to facilitator. Removal of learned helplessness by using rolesharing Focus should be on the process rather than the content of the problem solving process.

The Importance of Structure

To provide an overall process for problem solving. To provide procedures to govern the problem solving process. To govern and regulate team member behaviors, roles, and space. As feeling of vulnerability and helplessness can hampered learning.

Suggestions
Interpersonal skills of students can be developed through problem-based learning Problem based learning (PBL), satisfies three important criteria that promote optimal learning: 1. Provides an environment where the student is immersed in a practical, on-going activity. 2. Learning multi-directional 3. Learning is functional

Suggestions
A second strategy is to train students in interpersonal skills while they work on a problem in a specific course already existing within a curriculum. Tutors and faculty members could be trained to be team trainers, and teach students teaming skills while they work on problems. By training students (as well as faculty) in these skills prior to, or within existing al courses which utilize PBL, learning can be enhanced.

Conclusion
The skills necessary for successful teaming include all five interpersonal skills They can be easily developed, a little time and effort spent working and practicing your interpersonal skills will pay huge rewards. They will work as a tool for enhancing team building and developing team effectiveness

Presented by NISHANT PATHAK

For your attention