109inTerPerSonal 
eFFecTiVeneSS Skill S
Introduction to Handouts and Worksheets
Interpersonal effectiveness skills help you build new relationships, strengthen cur -
rent ones, and deal with conflict situations. They help you effectively ask for what 
you want and say no to unwanted requests. After a few handouts and worksheets 
for Goals and Factors That Interfere , three main groups of forms for interpersonal 
effectiveness skills are provided in DBT. The first set focuses on Obtaining Objec -
tives Skillfully —that is, how to get what you want from others, while also maintain -
ing your relationships and your self- respect. The second set, Building Relationships 
and Ending Destructive Ones , focuses on how to find friends, get them to like you, 
and maintain the relationships, as well as on how to end damaging relationships. The third set covers Walking the Middle Path skills, which in this module have to 
do with balancing acceptance and change in relationships.
Goals and Factors That Interfere
••Interpersonal Effectiveness Handout 1: Goals of Interpersonal Effectiveness 
Skills.  This first handout overviews the goals for each of the three main sections of 
this module. The major overall goal is to be effective in getting what you want skill -
fully.
••Interpersonal Effectiveness Worksheet 1: Pros and Cons of Using Interper -
sonal Skills.  Use this worksheet to decide whether to use interpersonal skills instead 
of power tactics or giving up and giving in to another person.
••Interpersonal Effectiveness Handout 2: Factors in the Way of Interpersonal 
Effectiveness.  Lack of skills is only one factor that may prevent you from being