Being socially savvy…
Social intelligence is just like regular intelligence, some of it we are born with and have a natural predisposition and the rest is learnt from good and bad experience. Some people it comes intrinsically with their personality and they are more charismatic, likeable and socially intelligent.
However if social situations are more tricky for you it does not mean that you cannot improve. Like any intelligence you need to learn and practice.
Being social savvy is about making fewer obvious mistakes than others. Knowing when to tell a joke or make a comment that is right for the audience.
Poor social skills can often be more of a failure than merely an intellectual one. The memory of a bad impression will last longer than a positive impression.
Here are some top tips as to how you can begin developing the skill:-
- Listening versus speaking – you need to understand the mind of the person you are speaking to so that you have the intended effect
- Read the signals – Be in sync with the room, how is the mood and atmosphere
- Understand the whole person – watch out for leakage in their body language
- Comfortable eye contact – engaged and not intense
- Welcoming posture – some-one you want to approach
- Warmth – through your voice and your physicality
- Be inclusive of others around you
- 80% Listening – aware of social context and empathetic listening
- Feedback – ask your peers or work with a coach to gauge your impact
Please do get in touch to develop your social skills by a nuggets workshop or 1:1 coaching.
