The former head of Ford Motor Company, Donald Petersen, said that the number one reason people succeed in business, or fail, is because of people skills.

What are they, anyway?

People skills boil down to an ability to get along with a wide range of people, the great majority of the time.

Here are five basic people skills that everyone who wants to progress, should implement:

(1) Dont pre-judge people based on appearances or on what somebody else has told you about them. Give everyone a chance to define or explain himself.

(2) Be a great listener. Commit to listening two thirds or more of the time. Not only will this be pleasing to others, youll learn something!

(3) Avoid using extreme language. Sound moderate, by saying I think, or perhaps, or possibly, instead of I know and definitely; unless you really do know, and must seem definite at that moment.

(4) Thank people, incessantly. Show your appreciation even more than you think you should.

(5) Praise the good, and always offer a solution if youre going to identify a problem. Dont be a complainer.

These five practices will take you far in your career, and in life.

And you may find that putting them to work does more for you than any technical information you have at your command.