Imagine yourself in a group conversation. Have you ever seen somebody and thought to yourself, “They just know exactly what to say and when”. You wonder how they have this ability of intuitively knowing what someone else is feeling and how to best respond to it. While it seems like that person is simply a “people-person”, it is likely that they are socially intelligent. If you have ever found yourself stuck and unsure of how to appropriately respond to someone expressing their hardships to you or fear you will end up making them feel worse, working on your social intelligence will bring you great relief.
Social Intelligence relates to a greater capacity in understanding and managing interpersonal relationships. As it relates to how we make sense of the people surrounding us, it is also helpful in building meaningful relationships. As we use social intelligence in understanding ourselves and relationships better, it assists in bringing mutual benefit to all people involved.
What are some of the signs of being Socially Intelligent?
1. Being an active listener by striving to truly understand the meaning behind the words.
2. Having adept conversational skills by knowing when to be humorous and when to be sincere.
3. Being concerned with how others perceive them and constantly working on the balance between creating a good first impression and being true to their natural self.
4. Cutting back on judgmental behaviour by using an open mind and realising peoples’ actions are determined by several factors such as their insecurities, environment and experiences.
5. Ability to observe others’ nonverbal actions, body language and expressions as they reveal hidden emotions.
6. Providing comfort to company by making other people feel at ease and understood.
Here are some ways you can develop or strengthen Social Intelligence:
1. Practice self awareness: It is important to be aware of your own emotional reactions before trying to understand others.
2. Show curiosity: Ask relevant questions to let people know you are fully engaged with them. It also helps if you remember details about someone that you can bring up later.
3. Work on being unbiased: Go into situations without any preconceived notions and allow yourself to be fully immersed in the interaction.
4. Understand the invisible societal factors: There are inevitable interplays in every communication. Understanding the hierarchies and connections can help inform your actions.
5. Focus on nonverbal behaviour: Deciphering nonverbal actions will help you understand a person in their truest form.
6. Practice empathy: Showing someone that you truly care will create a more positive connection.
by Sonia Raheja