Interpersonal skills are often referred to as people kills or social skills. Sometimes, they are pointed directly as communication skills. In general terms, they are also called life skills and fall under the category of “soft skills.” Unless you have developed anthropophobia or social phobia growing up, you actually possess innate interpersonal skills from the time you were born.

Yes, you had it in you all along. Interpersonal skills include verbal and non-verbal communication, listening skills, negotiation skills, problem solving and decision-making, and your level of assertiveness. What you say, how you say it, and how you interpret the message using both verbal and body language largely comprises the communication skills set of interpersonal skills. How you act upon challenges, find a win-win solution, and decide according to the opportunities presented as well as how you assert a stand also fall in the broad concept of interpersonal skills. All these, however, are crucial to your productiveness and effectiveness in the workforce.

While there are a broad range of skills set for you to be successful in your chosen field, it cannot be denied that having strong interpersonal skills will serve as a foundation for your success. Experts continually prove that without such, developing other life skills may be difficult.

Luckily, interpersonal skills can be honed to cohesively work with your hard skills. Here are some ways to develop them:

Indeed, developing strong personal skills can be a challenge. You need to recognize and accept your limitations and mistakes to fully grasp how far you can achieve. Maintain a positive attitude and, if possible, find a trusted coach who can guide you through.

Regardless of what you have in mind, it is known fact that your life’s strongest pursuit is that of the realization of your dreams. Your focus is to ensure that you land that dream job or get a promotion, or be successful with your startup business, or simply have a happy family, raise equally successful kids, or be a model citizen in the community. Each one of you is beholden to such challenges. The part when you start to work on the achievement of such goals, however, must start somewhere.

While motivation, personal goals and success are directly correlated, it is imperative to draw out your personal goals before everything. These goals will become your focus to motivate yourself to succeed. Setting personal goals is like turning on a car’s ignition. Motivation, on the other hand, is your way of driving continually and to go through every bump and puddle to ultimately arrive at success, your destination. By correlating these three aspects, you can guarantee facing life’s many challenges without flinching or backtracking.

Personal goals can come in many forms.  It could be academic, career, monetary, physical, creative, or ethical. These goals collectively point to your own domestic goals or how you wish to live life in the future. These personal goals come with two important perspectives—motivation and continuing direction.

To be useful however, experts suggested making your goal-setting SMART—specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timed. You need to know exactly what you want to be able to find ways to achieve them. To make sure that you can assess your progress, you need to set certain metrics. Of course, it must be realistic, relevant, and attainable—and to be more effective, a timeline must be set for the achievement of such goals.

But just because you create SMART goals then, that should be enough is a totally erroneous mindset. The world is also moving as you trudge in the realization of those goals. With this, you need to assess and re-assess your personal goals every step of the way. You need to check if such goals are still relevant or if you are still on the right track. In some cases, what you felt was of utmost importance before could no longer be as relevant due to sudden shifts in your life, job or business. If there is a need to rehash, improve or completely change them, then do so.

Goals must be solid enough to be able to move you, stimulate you to carry on, excite you. When these three concepts – goals, motivation and success—are properly aligned, you are definitely on the way for greatness.

To ensure that you get to easily move from one job to another, you need to have versatile or adaptable skills set. This particular skills set should not only be focused on one career path but must be broad-spectrum in a sense that it can fit to most, if not all, employment sectors. Employers are looking for people who have “employ-ability” skills or skills set that can fit to various job roles. So, what are these skills?

Communication Skills. Be prepared to have both excellent written and oral skills. Your own resume and its cover letter will deliver the “first impression” on your written capabilities while your interview will sound off that of your oral skills. Make sure to demonstrate articulateness when speaking while writing succinctly and with clarity. Employers look for these as it helps to carve a growth mindset, creativity, and aptitude.

Interpersonal Skills. Unless it’s a one-person mission to the moon, you will most definitely be working with co-employees, customers and clients, bosses, and so on. This is why the need to have good interpersonal skills is essential. This allows you to effectively partake as a team member, negotiate, and make good decisions. It also helps in satisfying client expectations as well as customer satisfaction. Excellent interpersonal skills usually stimulate empathetic listening leading to ease in building rapport with everyone.

Critical Thinking. Employers will also be on the lookout for your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Critical thinking is the ability to gather and evaluate relevant information—and the eye to pick the best solution. Along these lines, people with good critical thinking skills are also known to be effective in terms of planning, organizing, and getting things done efficiently.

Leadership Skills. While many believe that leadership skills are mainly focused for managerial or supervisory positions, this one is virtually being deemed essential on all new hires. This ability is about influencing others to achieve goals. Often, self-confidence is the best gauge being looked at by employers.

Computer Skills. This is the information age when everything is driven by technology and the Internet. Aside from knowing basic computer skills, some employers also look for specific requirements like ability to use apps, e-mail platform, social media, or programs related to their operation will be sought out.

Creative Skills. Bring your innovative and inventive mindset when applying for a new job. This skills are no longer just limited to marketing and designing but in many aspects. Finding new ways and means to make systems and procedures more effective and efficient has always been a target of businesses.

Numeracy-Presentation Skills. These two skills set are often interrelated. Presentation often require the ability to understand certain data like statistics, surveys, graphs, demographics, and other aspects essential to decision-making and reasoning. Numeracy skills can also become irrelevant if presentation skills are lacking.

While these skills sets are often on the table for employers and headhunters to consider, it is also important to develop positive attitude towards people, work, and the company you wish to work for. Expertise may be required in some aspects particularly in highly technical jobs but, all in all, employers will always choose someone who is willing to develop, learn and grow with the company.

In all these, it is important to note that keeping your employees well and healthy guarantees more productive results. Employees who are well-protected often deliver more benefits to the company. So whether you offer a group coverage or push for personal healthcare plans with add-on compensation, knowing that your wards are covered definitely means good business.

When going on a job interview, it is important to make employers judge you accurately. You would also want them to lean on your best side. Start on the right foot and ensure that it lasts long before the interview is over with these pointers:

1. Signify your objectives and set your goal clearly. Before going to an interview, it is imperative that you know precisely what you want. This will help ready your system to whatever will be thrown your way. Knowing that you want to be hired will maintain your focus to getting the job leading you to channel all the positive energy within.

2. Consider your overall visual impact. Yes, people rely mostly on their sense of sight for that nanosecond of judgment. Dress appropriately for the occasion. Make-up and hairdo must not be too stiff and not too all-over-the-place. So are your choices of jewelry. Be reminded also that wearing a watch is a must. It gives the impression of being prompt and “dedicated”. Some people seek out the help of a fashion coach in this regard.

3. Your nonverbal cues will take some 40 percent of the overall first impression. The way you carry yourself in a conversation, your mannerisms, hand gestures when you talk, the way you smile or laugh—these are all taken into account. Practice in front of a mirror. Shoot a practice interview with a friend or partner and review the video footage. Or you may also seek out the help of coach to hone your communication skills both verbal and body language.

4. Practice the essence of positivity. Days can easily turn from bad to worst. At some point, you may feel bad mood, anxiety or fear creeping under your clammy skin as you prepare for an interview. Find a corner and do a short meditative technique. It is called optimism. When your mind is free from all the burden of negativity, it will shine brightly into your eyes, your smile and words.

5. Be sincere. No matter how you feign interest or make yourself interesting, if the virtue of sincerity is not there, you are wasting your time. Make your approach genuine. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Clarify points not clear to you. An interviewer or employer always appreciates conversations built upon mutual curiosity.

Building lasting impression during job-seeking can be quite challenging. You need to be at the best of your game. So, try to assess yourself, draw out your strength, and turn your weakness as an advantage. Remember, you only get that one shot—make sure to make it count.

While it is easy to choose buying a house over leasing one, it cannot be said the same to an office space. For one, you need to understand that this means lack of flexibility in your current space. Your business will be “tied-up” to the current location making it harder to expand when the need requires so at a later time. Of course, this also entails coughing off a big chunk off your capital for the down payment, improvement, and maintenance costs.

However, buying also comes with astounding perks. For one, it allows you to have a clearer perspective on your fixed costs. Keep in mind that office rental usually increases year after year. Mortgage interest and property taxes also provide hefty tax deductions thereby, increasing your “income” potential. Take note also that real property rarely depreciates allowing you to have a solid investment for the future or as a retirement fund.

Many startup businesses and small-scale entities prefer leasing or renting an office space over buying to give them more flexibility. Not only does renting allow them to be flexible in terms of image and location, renting also allows them to covet prime property in a more affordable way. Basically, one does not have to shell out huge capital investments that only get tied up to idle asset like an office space. Subsequently, this also allows them to simply let the business grow first and then, be able to move from one prime location to another as they thrive.

But while the option may seem perfect for up and starting businesses, leasing also have notable disadvantages. Remember that lease increases annually and if your business does not take-off as planned, such cost may be too much of a burden. Leasing does not also assure you long-term hold on a strategic location. Often, some landlords tend to toughen their agreement once they see potential in their property.

So, should you lease or should you buy an office space? Again, it all depends on your long-term goals as a business entity. Often, one’s decision will involve not just strategic location but also tax, financial, and personal reasons. Do take note that the surge of rent-to-own office spaces is fast becoming the trend these days. With the help of a financial planner and broker, finding the best deal may give you the win-win situation you want.

There are 101 optimistic ways of retaining post-vacation vibe. The key is to always look forward to coming back. Work is, after all, your bread and butter—and without it, planning your next getaway will be virtually impossible.

What are these habits? What needs to be done? Here are some of the common ones you kept alive without even thinking of their negative implications.

Over-attachment to Gadgets. Oh, with such strong Wi-Fi connection or all the fun on social media, the idea of bringing laptops, smartphones or tablets on their beds or when lounging somewhere to relax is creeping into everyone’s system. But do you know that this harms both productivity and sleep? Tech gadgets emit light that imitates the sun’s rays thereby, confusing your body’s circadian rhythm or body clock. Precisely the reason why bringing your phone to bed will not make you sleepy. Be reminded that lack of sleep will easily curve your creativity level leading to disastrous effects.

Online Hostage. Majority of the nation is guilty of this. The lure of social media, streaming videos of news, movies, and television shows easily robs anyone from their focus on tasks at hand. Be reminded that focus is crucial to ensure a topnotch finish on whatever tasks you are handling. When you kept checking your Facebook private messenger or Twitter or an online news portal, such focus will be derailed leaving you unproductive.

Still on Gadgets. Checking on a phone or laptop while taking with someone is not just counterproductive, it is downright rude. The same goes to multi-tasking on meetings and talks. Imagine yourself presenting a report on company initiatives only to be disturbed by someone who’s clicking on his smartphone or typing something on her laptop. Put yourself in the speaker’s shoes, what will you feel? When you commit to a meeting, a conversation or even with small talks, put all your energy into it.

Notification Horror. Many people think that by using notifications, they can take better control of their productivity. Wrong! Do not be lured by the pings and bells. Instead, choose to create a priorities schedule to handle emails, voicemails, queries, complaints, requests, and other concerns. This will help rein in the impulses and deliver more productive results.

Saying Yes (even when the right thing is to say NO!). Affirming something even when inappropriate is one of the most stressful things to do. This will not only lead to burnout, it also erodes self-control. Emotionally intelligent people know precisely when to say Yes and when to roar “no”. Learn your limits and, in doing so, you can have better grasp of how the future unfolds.

Toxic Love. Many love to think and gossip about toxic people. Some also thrive in talking about other’s misfortunes and mistakes. Do you know that in doing so, you are also coloring your world with negativity that it warps the mind? Bring on the ray of positivity and let go of toxicity. Think of people who matters and who can mentor you to reach greater heights. The idea is to always look forward.

Procrastinating. Perfection is often, the lousiest excuse to procrastination. People tend to dilly-dally because of the thought that they’re not good enough, their ideas are not perfect, or that it is not the perfect time. For argument’s sake, timing indeed can matter to certain endeavors but when you kept waiting and waiting without doing something while doing so, such erodes self-control leading to eventual failure. So, act while you can when you can. The idea is to try and if you fail, at the very least, you learn.

Stereotyping. There is nothing good to come out when you keep comparing your own reflection to that of others or when you put so much hope and satisfaction through labels set forth by others. When something feel good or happy, don’t let anyone rub you off that sensation. Their opinion is no better than your own. Do not let them drag you into their own opinionated ground. You will ultimately lose your self-worth the moment you let them.

Stopping bad habits will not only help develop good ones but will also create a lasting impact on one’s sense of productivity and work ethics. So, flex those self-control muscles and start the ball rolling now. It will take time and painstaking efforts. But with success on the line, all these will definitely be worth the effort.

Millennials are the ultimate go-getters. When they put their head unto something, they will pursue it to the best of their abilities. Which is remarkable but only when you are not within their path. As a business owner, you may find it increasingly difficult to keep this talented lot around. Studies have often indicated that millennials are always on a job-hopping spree in their mindset of progressive growth.

So how does one rein millennials and inspire them to be part of the company growth? How will you immerse them into the business culture you take years to build?

The answer could very well be on how you motivate your own workforce. Virtually all employees, young or old alike, want a sense of accomplishment in what they do. No matter how fantastic or mundane, millennials want to be praised for their efforts. This means positive feedback is one of the driving forces keeping employees happy and motivated—and satisfied to stay.

While focusing on your employees’ strength and giving praise to fully motivate them, the task of delivering such is not a walk in the park. Millennials are not stupid to see pretensions and false praises. These individuals are not as naïve as you think. Amid their inexperience or lack thereof, they look at the world on a different lens. However, there are certain ways to ensure that your positive feedback be heeded.

Of course, as much as sincere praises will keep your millennial workforce happy and satisfied, it is also essential to point out outright irregularities and negativities. Recurring mistakes and blind spots, for instance, must be called out. Not necessarily to disappoint but more on giving them a chance to improve. When you criticize, do it constructively to ensure growth. In all things else, be kind. Often, people stay because they feel cherished and nurtured.

Technological investments, however, are not created equal. Some of these tech solutions will provide the necessary advantages. For the year 2017, the following tactics can be used to spruce up your tech investments and enjoy more promising results and returns.

From data acquisition, advances in computer technology have shifted to “data-curation.” Data collection will finally become more interactive and intuitive delivering a certain level of a collaborative environment without sacrificing privacy. Web optimization or having a strong online presence will continue to become a major player in small businesses. Project tracking in terms of expenditures, cash flow, transparency, and so on will become more advanced and usually done in real time. Cloud-based solutions will continue to provide more insights but will become largely encrypted leading to more freedom yet more private data communication. With this, small businesses must learn to gain key focus on the business and the right tools to generate more productive results.

Streamlining business cost is one of the most important achievements of outsourcing. Small businesses can put expertise as well as economies of scale to good use without having to create “costly” ancillary departments. By outsourcing specialized services like IT, HR, accounting, and customer support, you spend less time on these matters and put more focus on your core competencies and processes. Aside from convenience and cost saved, outsourcing also allows you to innovate more and find a new niche in the market. Finding a reliable business outsourcing partner, however, must be dealt accordingly to ensure positive results.

Mobile technology is the team to beat in the years to come. It’s no longer just mobile tech but SMART mobile technology. Intuitive and interactive, smart mobile technology will continually impact business communications, sales, logistics, marketing, and other business tactics. Smartphones and tablets, as well as hybrids, will continue to utilize promising mobile technologies. Interfaces will become more simplified. Connections will be faster and more wide-ranging while maintaining more privacy.

Small business will be powered by more sustainable sources like solar, wind, water, or biomass. This will echo the growing needs of the environment due to continuous decline. While global warming is heavily debated, more and more small business will engage in tech-savvy sustainable energy to ensure cultivating a culture of accountability and co-existence.

Innovative technology has a strategic role to play in the rise of small businesses today. These tactics will help deliver them to another level of growth without having to overspend. In the end, technology and other innovations will keep pushing them to become more competitive.