Saludos, readers! In this article, we will discuss social skills and most importantly, how you can build them.
Trust me, no one knows the pain of having poor social skills better than moi. Back in high school, I used to be the kid people talked about but hardly to. My social life was basically non-existent and honestly, I hated being around people.
But all of that changed the minute I entered varsity. When I got to realize that I actually needed to better my social skills if I wanted to relate better with people. No man is an island, and the truth is, whether you like it or not, you need people and people need you.
Mind you, introverts worldwide might disagree with me; in fact, they probably have several quotes and videos from Twitter and Youtube respectively. Videos that will counter my objections and vehemently reject my affirmations.
Nonetheless, I’m yet to see that particular introvert that doesn’t have friend(s) or a loved one. As human beings, we’re inherently social animals (emphasis on the latter word) and it’s our nature to coexist with people.
In fact, simply knowing how to relate with people is something most introverts learn, though not for the sake of interaction. How else do you reckon they know exactly what to tell you? How do they manage to keep you at arm’s length while preserving the illusion that you’re more than acquaintances?
Social skills make you easy-going when you master them. What no one says is that it can also make you quite dangerous. For further details, see the link below.
Related: How To Become Dangerous
What Are Social Skills?
Social skills, also called interpersonal skills, are how people communicate effectively with others. Social skills are more broadly categorized as soft skills, also known as personality traits or habits.
Learning social skills helps you develop the ability to sense people’s feelings and understand motives. When you develop social skills, you navigate the relationships in your life and career more easily. With excellent social skills, you can cultivate, maintain and grow relationships that help you excel.
How Can You Build Social Skills?
The following methods reveal how you can build social skills to improve your life:
Related: 5 Ways to Improve Your Time Management
Pull That Stick Out Your Ass
Do you know it is possible to be social even if you don’t feel like it? If you have lived more than 4950 days, I reckon you must have had at least one awkward scenario where you were required to make small talk when you would have preferred otherwise.
And you handled it, didn’t you? No matter how awkward.
As I said, it’s all part of your nature. Anxiety is a common problem, trust me. More common than you know, and sometimes it seems easier to appear standoffish. However, there will be times when you absolutely need to socialize. Don’t let anxiety hold you back. Make the decision to talk to new people and enter into conversations even when you’re feeling nervous about it.
Over time, it will get easier and this will improve your social skills.
READ: Gen Z vs Millennials: Battle of the Generations
Learn To Speak Without Speaking
Nonverbal communication is how you communicate without using words. People constantly notice nonverbal cues about their emotional state. For example, proper gestures and expressions can give you the appearance of being respectable and attentive.
During professional interactions, you want your nonverbal communication to tell others that you’re actively listening and being attentive. You can do so by nodding at the appropriate times and smiling as well. These subtle cues give the person positive feedback that helps them express their thoughts more easily.
SEE: 100 Sweet Good Night Messages for Him
Have Empathy
Empathy is the ability to recognize a person’s emotions or state of mind. In the workplace, empathy helps you to understand the mindsets of your co-workers and clients. Employers value empathetic people because they build a stimulating and healthy social environment.
One way you can practice empathy is by imagining what it would be like to be another person. Ask others for their viewpoints on how to approach problems. Even if your opinions differ, you can benefit from the new perspective.
It’s important to ask questions to expand your understanding of another person’s way of thinking. Having empathy encourages others to share their ideas with you, leading to new insights.
Related: How To Build Professional Development
Make People Talk
This is very important if you’re an introvert. If you want to divert attention away from yourself in a conversation, get familiar with open-ended questions. Encourage others to talk so you won’t have to make idle chit-chat.
Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer and you may open the door to invite the other person to keep the conversation going.
F*ck Negative Thoughts
If you have a lot of negative thoughts about your social interactions, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
For example, a person who thinks, “I’m really awkward and I will embarrass myself,” may sit in the corner at a party. As a result, he may leave the party thinking that he must be really awkward because no one talked to him.
Identify negative thoughts that are likely dragging you down. Replace them with more realistic thoughts such as, “I can make conversation and I can meet new people.”
Don’t allow yourself to dwell on thoughts that aren’t productive! Find out How Not to Let Negative Thoughts Trump the Positive Vibes.
Good social skills are essential for effective communication. If you find socializing with others a challenge, start to take on my suggestions and practice each of them consistently.
Great social skills don’t come easily; you need to practice yourself and really try these tips by talking with others.
Related: 10 Marketable Skills for the Future
Listen More Than You Speak
Active listening is a practice of listening and responding that increases comprehension. Active listening techniques strengthen your communication and help you commit what others say to memory. It involves focusing fully on another person, comprehending their words, and responding thoughtfully.
Through nonverbal and verbal cues, active listeners show that they are interested in the conversation. When you practice keeping focus when another person is speaking, you improve your ability to comprehend what they are saying. To learn more, ask relevant questions.
If you need clarification during a conversation, repeat what you heard back to the speaker. This method is called paraphrasing. For example, you can use phrases such as “What I hear you saying is …” or “So you are saying that …” With this method, you can prevent any misunderstandings.
Never Run From Responsibility
This helps you most in your professional life. Leadership skills are the ability to manage groups of people to accomplish shared goals. Being an effective leader requires excellent social skills.
You can develop your leadership skills in various ways. One common option is to enroll in leadership training programs and seminars in your community. Having the initiative to take on more projects demonstrates that you are committed to your role and the company. Leading a project team can prepare you for supervisory or management roles.
Another option is networking with leaders in your field. Meeting other leaders can help you understand the characteristics you need to cultivate. In some cases, you can find a leader who can mentor you. Search for a mentor with the right skills and expertise who can share their insights with you.
Related: Unlock your Academic Potential: Friendly Tips for Effective Studying
Choke On Books About Social Skills
I’ll get a little biased here. I’m a bibliophile (won’t deign to explain the word to you) so this is my favorite option. Nothing impacts your mind more than knowledge, and there are many books on the market that can help you learn specific social skills and ways to start conversations.
However, keep in mind that only reading about these skills won’t make you an expert. To build social skills, you’ll need to practice them over and over again. Practice makes perfect, they say.
Some books recommendations include: How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes, Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds by Carmine Gallo, The Communication Book: 44 Ideas for Better Conversations Every Day by Mikael Krogerus and How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Also See: How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile
A Word From Battabox On Social Skills
Congratulations, you have just learned how to build social skills which are important for your life. I suggest you follow them keenly to reap their benefits. Until we meet again. Selah!
If you have any questions, let us know below.
