Interpersonal Intelligence: Definition And Tips To Improve It
The Interpersonal intelligence It is a concept that derives from the development of Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. It is a type of intelligence that, together with the others, enables us to adapt to the environment and interactions with others in an optimal way.
Specifically, interpersonal intelligence is that which It explains the degree to which we are able to make a rough estimate of the mental and mood states of others Thus, someone with good interpersonal intelligence is able to capture the intentions of others, their feelings (which they can express more or less), know what information others are missing… and, as a consequence, they will interact well with these people, by adapting to them and even predicting certain aspects of them.
It should be said that this ability is not limited only to the way of interpreting the words said by others, but also It also extends to the ability to read facial expressions, movements and even behavioral patterns Therefore, it does not depend only on the information that the other person gives us about themselves.
Beyond the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, interpersonal intelligence can be related to concepts such as social skills or emotional intelligence (in its social aspect, since intrapersonal intelligence can also be included in this idea).
Ultimately, this type of intelligence is related to our way of adjusting to the minds and actions of others and the way we interact with people that defines us.
What are people with good interpersonal intelligence like?
For what was said above, You may already be thinking about jobs and professions that are characterized by exploiting this type of skill Professionally, these people are usually the ones who offer a part of their added value that is related to their ability to solve diplomatic tasks or tasks related to face-to-face contact with many people.
Examples of these profiles are salespeople, lawyers, teachers, public speakers and, of course, psychologists
Interpersonal intelligence in modern times
The truth is that, in the information age, interpersonal intelligence has become very important both in our personal lives (in which we interact with a much larger number of people than was normal a century ago) and in the professional field, where diplomacy with different types of agents is almost inevitable.
That is why it is worth spending some effort trying to improve it. Below you can read some keys to face this task
Tips to improve interpersonal intelligence
With these key points you can learn to improve your interpersonal intelligence.
1. Ask yourself what you know that others don’t know
In your interaction with other people, there may be cases in which you make references to facts or things that others are unaware of. Taking for granted that other people have the same information as oneself can make the conversation not very fluid or even have some somewhat uncomfortable moments
People can lie with words, but it is much more difficult to lie with their body. That is why facial gestures, posture and head or arm movements give us information that, on occasions when it is not ambiguous, is more reliable than that which provides us with the content of his speech.
3. Think about how they see you
To better interpret what the people around you are doing, it is a good idea think first about how they may be interpreting what you do Make efforts to keep in mind that what others do depends largely on how they perceive you.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask
Certain relevant aspects are well worth a question. When you notice that there is something that comes between you and others in your communication, consider the possibility of asking directly what it is about However, it is also good that you consider which possible topics are not good to be attacked head-on in your conversation, since some questions can put others in a violent situation or can hurt someone’s sensitivity by being fully exposed.
