In an age when 30 something CEOs and VPs no longer amaze us and established ideas are questioned each day, holding one’s own at the workplace is a challenge in itself. What can help, maybe partly, is the ability to think clearly, build networks, communicate more openly and develop interpersonal relationships.

Scientists and engineers in all positions have to be able to communicate the purpose and relevance of their work, both orally and in writing. Teachers have to communicate with their students. Industry people must communicate with managers and co-workers (many of whom will not be scientists and engineers) and with customers. If you work in public policy or government, you might have to communicate with the press and other members of the public. You need to communicate with colleagues to keep up with trends, to collaborate on projects, and to find a new position. If communication is a social need for an individual, it is the lifeblood for an organization. Today it is not sufficient enough just to have the technical ability to do the job. We need to possess interpersonal skills to communicate, motivate, organize, counsel and negotiate.

In addition, many people, including managers, guided by technological absolutism, take their interpersonal skills for granted. Therefore, they fail to work effectively with superiors, colleagues, and subordinates. Moreover, with globalization and the prevailing economic scenario, the corporate sector has to operate in a rapidly changing, turbulent and highly competitive environment. Companies have to harness their employees’ skills, knowledge and attitudes to ensure quality and quantity in every aspect of work.

To achieve all these, and to meet a growing demand for managers to acquire the art of practicing interpersonal skills, this training programme has been designed with twin objectives