MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Nurturing Brilliance, Transforming Generations 28 YEARS

OF EXCELLENCE
FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Session I
Time of Session
(1-1.5 hours)

Topics covered in the session:

Introduction​of​​Topic​
True ​Colours ​personalities ​- ​understanding​
CONTENT
ONTENT

Objectives
Identify​​personality​​styles​​of​​self​​and​​others​​and​​how​​to​​deal​​with​such styles
Identify​​tips​​to​​deal​​with​​different​​people​​differently

Pre-reading​for ​Mentee​​/ ​Assignments​​Due​

Mentee​​to ​complete ​the ​assessment ​and ​identify ​own ​personality.
Mentee ​to​​refer​​to True Colors ​table ​below ​to ​understand ​the ​personality ​traits.

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TRUE COLORS – PERSONALITY TEST

True Colors is a model for understanding yourself and others based on your personality temperament. The colors of Blue, Green,
Orange, and Gold are used to differentiate the four​​central​​personality ​styles ​of ​True​​Colors.

Instructions: Compare all 4 boxes in each row. Do not analyze each word; just get a sense of each box. Score each of the four boxes
in each row from most to least as it describes you: ​4​=​most,​​3​=​a ​lot,​​2​=​somewhat,​​1​=​least.

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TRUE COLORS – PERSONALITY TEST

A B C D
Active Organized Warm Learning
Variety Planned Helpful Science
Sports Neat Friends Quiet
ROW 1 Opportunities Parental Authentic Versatile
Spontaneous Traditional Harmonious Inventive
Flexible Responsible Compassionate Competent
SCORE: SCORE: SCORE: SCORE:

E F G H
Curious Caring Orderly Action
Ideas People-Oriented On-time Challenges
Questions Feelings Honest Competitive
ROW 2 Conceptual Unique Stable Impetuous
Knowledge Empathetic Sensible Impactful
Problem Solver Communicative Dependable SCORE:
SCORE: SCORE: SCORE:

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TRUE COLORS – PERSONALITY TEST

I J K L
Helpful Kind Playful Independent
Trustworthy Understanding Quick Exploring
Dependable Giving Adventurous Competent
ROW 1 Loyal Devoted Confronting Theoretical
Conservative Warm Open-minded Why questions
Organized Poetic Independent Ingenious
SCORE: SCORE: SCORE: SCORE:

M N O P
Follow Active Sharing Thinking
Rules Free Getting along Solving problems
Useful Winning Feelings Perfectionist
ROW 2 Save money Daring Tender Determined
Concerned Impulsive Inspirational Complex
Procedural Risk-taker Dramatic Composed
SCORE: SCORE: SCORE: SCORE:

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TRUE COLORS – PERSONALITY TEST

Q R S T
Puzzles Social causes Exciting Pride
Seeking info Easy going Lively Tradition
Making sense Happy endings Hands-on Do things right
ROW 1 Philosophical Approachable Courageous Orderly
Principled Affectionate Skillful Conventional
Rational Sympathetic Onstage Careful
SCORE: SCORE: SCORE: SCORE:

Total orange score Total green score Total blue score Total gold score
A,H,K,N,S D,E,L,P,Q C,F,J,O,R B,G,I,M,T

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TRUE COLORS – PERSONALITY TEST

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SESSION FLOW
Action Item Time
1 10 min
Review​​Assignment ​(personality ​test) ​and​​provide feedback

2 10 min
Discuss​​the​​following ​topics ​(content ​provided)
a. Interpersonal​​Skills

3 10 min
Watch ​the ​following​​video​​together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw_T2P91J4c

4 Activities on interpersonal skills 30 min

5 Session Wrap-up: reflect on what 10 min
a. You Did
b. You Learnt
c. You found interesting
d. Questions about content

6 Session Feedback & Assignments Post Session

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WHAT ARE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

INTERPERSONAL​​=​INTER​+​PERSON​

Interpersonal skills refer to the interactions between people. The majority of careers require consistent, if not constant, interaction
with other people. This can be within teams,​between ​different ​departments, ​with​​clients,​​vendors,​​virtual ​teams ​etc​.
Developing your interpersonal skills enhances your success both personally and professionally. The better the interpersonal skills,
the smoother the journey towards any ​project​​completion​.
It is a very common question asked, what is easier – working with people who are just ​like​​you ​or ​to ​work ​with​​people ​who​​are ​
different​.
While we all wish that people around us could change and become better, the reality is that experts advise us to change our style to
suit the other, instead of wishing for the​reverse​​to ​happen​.

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BENEFITS OF IMPROVING INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• It is increasing your ability to build long-lasting and meaningful professional relationships.

• Makes your communication effective; you get the results you want because you​know​​where​​you​​are ​going ​and​​how ​to​​
get​​there​.
• Gives​you​​confidence​​and​​drive ​to​​advance ​your​​career​.
• Helps​you ​to ​understand​​yourself​​and ​others​​better​.
• Creates the perfect ground for you to use and expand your potential and talents.
• Allows​you​​to ​feel​​connected​​to ​other​​people​.
• Gives you the opportunity to search and find the place where you feel you belong​and​​where​​you​​are ​useful, ​liked,​​loved​​
and ​wanted​.

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EXAMPLES OF INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• The ability to express yourself clearly and confidently.

• Being aware of body language and facial expressions.
• Listening to others completely and with empathy.
• Being willing to collaborate and work as a team.
• Understanding implied rules of behavior.
• Being able to assert yourself without making the other person seem small or you to appear angry and aggressive.
• Being responsible and timely.
• Being able to speak for, or support, others who are less able to do it for themselves (advocacy).

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ACTIVITY 1:

TRUE COLORS (VIDEO)

TIME: 10 MINS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw_T2P91J4c

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ACTIVITY 2

CASE STUDY
TIME: 15 MINS
Scene 1
Babu has asked Gauri, one of his team leaders, to give him an update on a project. Gauri spends the first five minutes sharing her concerns for
one of the members of
her team. While she’s talking, Babu is reviewing her report and notices an error. He abruptly cuts her off with a sarcastic remark about the
mistake.
Babu’s thoughts:
“I don’t have the time to listen to all these stories about her team members. Why can’t she just focus on her work and get the facts right instead
of wasting her time on thinking about how others in the team feel. I can’t work with her.”
Gauri’s thoughts:
“He seems emotionless and insensitive. I’m not sure I want to work with somebody who lacks any sort of feelings for the team members.”

Refer to discussion activity 1

below 4
ACTIVITY 2 …

Scene​2​
Rachana has scheduled a meeting with Suhail in the conference room. Suhail is 37 minutes late and hasn't called.
When he finally arrives, rather than explain himself, he makes an off-the-cuff joke and says he doesn't have his
project file with him. Rachana is livid and struggles to keep her displeasure under wraps.
Rachana’s thoughts : “This guy is unbelievable; he’s late again. He is so disorganised. I can’t work with him.
Suhail’s thoughts : "Rachana really needs to lighten up. She's a bit of a control freak and a taskmaster. Working
with her isn't going to be a lot of fun, she's way too uptight."

Refer to discussion activity

below 1
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ACTIVITY 2 …

Answers:

WHO PEROSNALITY REASON/TRAITS

Babu Green Competency,​​attention​​to​​detail, ​logical ​thinking

Gauri Blue Teamwork,​​concern​​for​​others​​and ​compassion

Rachana Gold Punctuality, ​organization​​and ​preparedness

Sohail Orange Being ​flexible, ​practical,​​expedient,​​having ​fun

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ACTIVITY 2 …

Gauri can be sensitive to the fact that Babu is a blue personality and therefore start the presentation with more data, figures
etc. and then slip in the information about her employee’s difficulties.
Babu can be sensitive to the fact that Gauri is a green personality can be more patient with her comments about the team
member and inquire about their wellness after the main discussion is over.
Suhail can be sensitive to Rachana's personality of being a "gold" and plan better and be on-time and carry his report. He
could also save the humour for a later time.
Rachana can also be sensitive to the fact that Suhail is an Orange personality and try to loosen up a bit instead of being so
uptight.

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ACTIVITY 3

REAL CASE SCENARIO

TIME: 10 MINS

Take real life scenario of having to deal with different or difficult people. Use the knowledge gained from the session to deal with
them better.

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RESOURCES

1. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/interpersonal-skills.html
2. http://www.utsa.edu/students/sanews/2011/issue23/issueimages/22_True%20Colors%20Under%20Stress%20by%20Mary%20Miscisin.pdf

REFERENCES

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Colors_(personality)
2. https://selfimprovement.org/interpersonal-skills

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