Interpersonal, communication and social skills focus on how you communicate, interact and respond to others in both professional and social settings.
Communication skills encompass how you convey information through speaking, writing and multimedia. Interpersonal skills are about engaging with others to build and manage relationships, helping you connect positively and navigate communication challenges. Social skills support both of these skills. They also help you make friends, integrate into social and professional networks, and thrive in various social environments.
You can see a full list of the skills included in this category at the bottom of this page.
These skills affect all aspects of your life, both personal and professional. Strengthening them can positively impact your daily activities and your relationships. Additionally, as use of AI and automation grows, these skills are becoming increasingly valuable in the workplace.
Think about which of these skills you are developing through your study and activities using the list at the bottom of the page, and use the Skills Discovery Tool to evaluate your skills.
Easy ways to get started
These skills are easy to practice in your everyday life. You could try:
- Introducing yourself to new people in lectures or practical sessions – you might find a new study buddy!
- Practicing active listening during supervisions by building on others’ ideas rather than just waiting for your turn to speak.
- Using mealtimes as social opportunities – talk to new people in the dining hall, or chat to people in your kitchen.
If you're nervous about making friends and getting to know people at Cambridge, take a look at this guidance from Student Support. Getting involved in activities and societies based on your interests is a great way of bonding with others and building your social skills.
If you have a disability or neurodivergence that means practicing these skills is more difficult, have a chat with your ADRC advisor or mentor, your tutor or a friend about this. The ADRC run a weekly peer group for students with autism, and the Cambridge Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance run social events and skills workshops.
Skills development opportunities
As you build confidence with these everyday activities, you might want to explore more structured opportunities. Here are some suggestions to help you develop your skills in this area:
- Become a student ambassador, supporting outreach events. Find out how to do this on the Community & Volunteering page.
- Join a sports team. This is a great way to build your teamwork skills and meet new people. There are competitive and recreational opportunities for all abilities - find out more on the Physical Activity & Sport page.
- Take on a committee role. There are many positions available across College and University societies, your College JCR/MCR and May Ball committees. Any role will build interpersonal skills, from collaboration to leadership, while engaging in something you're passionate about! Learn more on the Societies & Committees page.
- Many Colleges and societies host networking events, where you can build connections with your peers and alumni. Attend workshops run by your College to build your skills in networking, or take a look at this networking guide on LinkedIn Learning. Find out how to access LinkedIn Learning through your University account.
- Take part in debates or discussions. This could be through a debating society such as the Cambridge Union or the Cambridge United Nations Association, or reading and discussion groups. Check out your departmental mailing list for these groups, or University institutes such as CRASSH.
- Apply to be part of your College telephone fundraising campaign, which take place annually during vacations. Working as a caller, you will get to speak to alumni from your College, building your communication and persuasion skills.
- Build your teamwork skills by getting involved in a student theatre production. There are lots of roles available, from performing on stage to working behind the scenes in a technical or creative role. Find out more on the Theatre, Film & Arts page.
Check out the activities pages for more ideas on how to get involved and develop your skills in this area.
|
Skill |
Definition |
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Ability to advocate |
The ability to publicly support or represent an idea, cause, or development. |
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Accountability |
The ability to take ownership of one's behaviours and responsibilities and being able to provide reasonable explanations for one's decisions and actions. |
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Active Listening |
The ability to provide full attention to other speakers, understand their viewpoints and utilise gained information in following conversations or situations. |
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Adopting a different perspective |
The ability to consider a situation, idea, or problem from a new or alternative point of view. |
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Building networks |
The ability to establish and nurture connections with individuals within one's existing network, as well as engaging with people from different educational or professional domains, clubs, or shared interests. |
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Coaching others |
The ability to facilitate learning or training of another person, a small group, or a sports team. |
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Collaboration |
The ability to work together with others and coordinate individuals' different skills to achieve a shared goal. |
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Communication |
The ability to effectively share information, ideas, and emotions with others through written, verbal, and non-verbal mediums. |
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Compassion |
The ability to understand other people's hardships and express sympathy and the desire to help them. |
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Courage and risk taking |
The ability to embrace uncertainty and potential setbacks in the hope of desired results or great achievements. |
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Debate |
The ability to analyse, justify, and articulate comprehensive arguments during a discussion with others while demonstrating respectable manners and engaging in a polite disagreement. |
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Developing relationships |
The ability to build meaningful connections with others based on trust, mutual respect, and effective communication. |
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Emotional intelligence |
The ability to have awareness over and to control one's emotions and their expression in order to handle interpersonal relationships thoughtfully and empathetically. |
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Empathy |
The ability to share and appreciate someone else's feelings and experiences by projecting oneself into that person's situation. |
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Empowering others |
The ability to foster confidence in others by entrusting them with tasks and decision-making responsibilities while holding them accountable for both achievements and setbacks. |
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Engaging with society |
The ability to participate as an individual and a group member in collective activities and interactions that reinforce social norms. |
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Fostering Inclusiveness |
The ability to appreciate diverse points of view and provide access and respect to individuals of any orientation and background. |
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Leadership |
The ability to reinforce a project's/organisation's vision while supporting and inspiring inspire individuals with diverse character traits and preferences. |
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Managing up |
The ability to establish and navigate a positive relationship with one's supervisor to achieve mutual success and goals. |
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Mentorship |
The ability to pose as a role model to help and encourage another person to learn and develop skills for their personal or career development or achieve a certain goal. |
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Persuasion |
The ability to change others' attitudes, motivations, or behaviours through a sound reasoning or argument. |
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Recognition of assumptions |
The ability to recognise beliefs or assumptions which may not be necessarily true. |
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Resolving conflicts |
The ability to identify, address, and solve a conflict in a collaborative manner that promotes positive team dynamics and progress. |
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Role-modelling |
The ability to demonstrate positive behaviours, attitudes, and values as an example for others to emulate. |
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Sociability |
The ability to meet and spend time with other people in a friendly and approachable manner. |
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Teaching |
The ability to help with developing someone's subject knowledge or skills, create engaging lesson plans, effectively communicate feedback, and create a supportive learning environment. |
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Teamwork |
The ability to work together with others or in a group to collaboratively achieve a common goal. |
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Understanding biases |
The ability to recognise when pre-existing patterns affect one's thinking process or judgement, often in an unconscious or unfair way. |