You might believe that social intelligence is something you are born with, but in actuality, some people can develop their social intelligence with continued effort.
It’s conceivable that you’ll enhance your confidence and decrease your anxiety in social settings, which is absolutely something to count for. Don’t get me wrong; if you’re not a natural social butterfly, it’s likely that you’ll never be an expert, but it is possible that you’ll boost your confidence and decrease your anxiety in social situations.
They engage in reading works of fiction.
It is not necessary to read one hundred books each year in order to be socially competent. There are many people in the world who are able to navigate crowded parties with ease and charm practically everyone they encounter, even if they have not spent the last few decades reading fiction every evening.
Reading fiction, on the other hand, is something that is proven to be beneficial, and it is something that many individuals who are highly socially intelligent do on a very consistent basis. Why?
Empathy is the key to understanding the situation. The capacity to discern the feelings and thoughts of other people, to empathize with what they are going through, and to respond properly to what they say are all essential components of social intelligence. When you read fiction, it is similar to rehearsing for this sort of engagement without really having to put yourself in situations where you have to interact with other people.
Reading broadens your perspective and exposes you to a more diverse range of experiences and points of view, which in turn enables you to get a more nuanced comprehension of the workings of the human mind. After that, you will be able to put this information into practice in the real world.
Reading fiction has been demonstrated to promote empathy as well as critical thinking and other crucial EQ (emotional intelligence) aspects.
They pay attention to every little thing.
When meeting a new person, a person who is skilled in social interaction makes it a practice to immediately begin observing the minute details of that person, such as the way their energy varies based on the subject being discussed, the facial expressions they pull, their body language, and the way they react to particular inquiries.
It’s not always the content of someone’s statement that tells a great deal about them, but rather the manner in which they say it and the timing of their statement.
People who are socially intelligent are aware of this fact, and as a result, they exert more effort during social encounters to ensure that they are paying close attention to the relevant facts.
They conduct research on themselves.
The capacity to analyze one’s own thoughts and behaviors is possibly even more significant when it comes to social intelligence than the ability to observe the ideas and actions of others. Observing others is crucial, but studying one’s own thoughts and deeds is essential.
This is due to the fact that the instrument that is already present within you—namely, your humanity—is the one that is required to open the brains of other people.
Do you write in a diary on a regular basis or try to unravel your mental processes? Do you find methods to turn constructive criticism into productive action? Do you make it a point to maintain the highest level of self-awareness possible, giving careful consideration to what you want to say before you say it, and behaving in a way that is congruent with the values you hold? If this is the case, it is a very strong indication that your level of social intelligence is already fairly high.
They make every interaction fun chatter.
It never fails to amaze me how well-rounded my children are in terms of their ability to interact with other people.
After years of being their mom, I am now able to declare with complete certainty that one of their tendencies is to seize every opportunity to have a nice talk with someone, whether it be the cashier at the grocery store, the receptionist at the swimming pool, or the person waiting in line behind them. They do this whether they are at the store, at the pool, or at the receptionist’s desk.
I often joke when I say that they have the ability to make friends out of anyone, but if I’m being honest, one of the things that I love most about them is their excellent social intelligence. They are young people who, in the past, were timid and naive, so the fact that they are now able to converse with total strangers with such ease and grace is very encouraging to me.
Because they make it seem so simple, I have a heightened sense of motivation to step outside of my comfort zone and do the same thing.
They work on friendships and relationships.
Because it enables you to piece together a more nuanced picture of the person you’re getting to know, maintaining long-term friendships is one of the most effective strategies for broadening your social awareness. The deeper your relationship with someone is, the more you will learn about them, and the more nuanced your comprehension of individuals may become. In addition to this, preserving positive relationships with one’s friends and family is an extremely vital component of one’s overall health and well-being.
Who was the friend I brought up? She never breaks her word or her commitments. She is prompt in her arrival. She never backs out on our plans. She inquires about my life with such zeal that it makes me feel as like I am being heard and understood.
Not only does she or he improve their social intelligence as a result of this habit of hers—owing to their efforts, we are forming a deep friendship that teaches us how to traverse one another’s brains—but it also contributes to both her and my level of enjoyment.
A victory for all parties!
They prioritize self-care.
One of the benefits of having people skills is that you are aware of the requirements that other people have in order to feel happy and cared for, as well as the requirements that you have in order to feel happy and cared for yourself.
If you have social intelligence, you won’t feel ashamed to take some much-needed time off for yourself to practice self-care, whether that takes the shape of a restorative meditation session, a day at the spa, or an evening spent reading a good book. If you don’t have social intelligence, you may feel embarrassed to take some much-needed time off for yourself to practice self-care.
You will come to the realization that these pursuits are not a “guilty pleasure” or a “reward” for all of your hard work, but rather an essential component of a life that is good and offers satisfaction to the people who participate in it.
In social interactions, they avoid negativity.
Do you take a moment to stop yourself before you moan about everything during every conversation? Do you make an effort to cheer up the other person by trying to make them laugh or smile and talking about things that will make their day better rather than things that will make their mood worse?
Many congratulations to you!
Because you have the self-awareness to realize that you shouldn’t connect with other people over shared negativity, the self-regulation to think over your words before you speak, and the empathy to understand that most of us want to leave conversations feeling lighter, not heavier, this is a sign that your social intelligence is high.
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t keep all of your grievances to yourself. It’s healthy to let off some steam every once in a while. It is OK to feel rage. Just remember to steer clear of making unfavorable interactions the primary focus of any and all of your social engagements.
They know culturally relevant news. The very final pattern on our list is: Follow along with the news!
I was joking, really. To have the ability to deal with people, you don’t even need to follow the news. In spite of this, it is beneficial to remain current on culturally relevant events, such as the most popular television series, memes, or general trends in society.
This is due to the fact that your social interactions will take place with a large number of different individuals, and if you’re in the know, you’ll naturally boost your odds of getting along with others and responding to their subtle hints or inside jokes with an innate awareness of what they’re talking about.
It is also a very good method to obtain a better insight into how people behave on a larger scale by paying attention to societal trends and cultural news. Furthermore, the more information you have about humans in general, the simpler it will be for you to carry on discussions with other people. This is us, by the way!
Conclusion
Before we part ways for the day, it is important to keep in mind that social awareness is just one component of intelligence and that while some individuals have inherently higher social abilities than others, there is a method to enhance anyone’s social skills, including your own. Having said that, it is totally OK for you to continue to struggle with your ability to interact with other people. You are great without changing a thing about yourself. The single most essential thing is for you to become aware of all the beauty that already resides inside you.