interpersonal skills

plural noun

: the ability to communicate and interact with other people in an effective and friendly way : people skills

Professionally, William had a reputation as a dynamic leader with strong interpersonal skills—the kind of executive who made people feel valued and heard, leading with curiosity and fostering a collaborative approach.

—Monica Wiant

Sports participation … encourages social interaction, which can help children develop their interpersonal skills and provide opportunities to build lifelong friendships.

—Chicago Daily Herald

compare soft skills

Examples of interpersonal skills in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her new strategy is to use her undergraduate studies to build critical thinking and interpersonal skills — areas where humans still have an edge. —ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

McKinsey’s 2024 workforce report identified communication and interpersonal skills as the top gap in entry-level hiring across industries—outranking technical skill deficits for the first time. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above