Dear Editor,

It was former US President Theodore Roosevelt who once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This suggests that what really matters is not mere academic prowess but interpersonal skills — the ability to relate well with others.

It is obvious that people skills are lacking in many areas of our society, in our homes and organisations. The tendency is to focus more on projects and meeting deadlines, and we are so completely distracted by gadgets that we forget people — the most important resource in a society.

Recently I read a story of a teacher who asked her students to write about what they would like to be, and a boy wrote that he would like to be a television because that is what is given the most attention in his home. He described how neglected he felt and how his parents would yell at him.

The moral really is that we should reconsider who or what is most important to us and focus our attention there. People should matter more than projects; our team members more than timelines; colleagues more than competition; and family more than fame or fortune.

We tend to downplay this very critical area by saying we do not have enough time or we attribute not developing these skills to our personality traits — both of which are unacceptable.

The truth is investing in relationships take time but is worth the investment due to the great returns one can receive from it. Imagine a home where all the members feel loved, seen, and valued. Imagine an organisation where the members feel heard, understood, and a part of the team. This will motivate them to go above and beyond their call of duty. As the saying goes, Encouragement sweetens labour.

We should endeavour to play our role in developing this important skill. This can be done by being an active listener; being interested in other areas of people’s lives, not just their professional lives; celebrating their highs; and consoling them in their moments of lows, showing respect to others, being an active team player, and networking. Developing this skill will result in productivity and profitability. It will foster a sense of belonging, thus yielding high performance.

We need people, and as such we should prioritise people skills. Whether we are extroverted or introverted, people skills can be learnt and require intentionality. We need to build team spirit and treat others fairly. This will positively impact both families and organisations. We were created for community and should capitalise on this blessing and reap the benefits. Let us see each person as someone from whom we can learn and someone who we can inspire.

Let us resolve to be intentional in developing this skill.

Shauna-kay Douglas

douglasshauna91@yahoo.com