Human beings are social beings and, therefore, We must acquire a series of social skills that allow us to live in harmony with those around us since we need others to survive and to enjoy an emotionally healthy life.
Not possessing certain social skills determines how we behave when we are with other people and our way of acting can, on some occasions, be misinterpreted by others, which can result in a conflict that could have been avoided.
Social skills are a set of behaviors that we emit when we interact with other individuals and that help us relate to others in an effective and mutually satisfying way. Luckily, they can be acquired and developed with practice. However, some of them can be difficult to master, as you have to be patient and take time to develop them properly.
In today’s article, we have prepared a list of the top 14 social skills to be successful in your relationships and life Let us begin!
1. Active listening
There is a big difference between listening and hearing Knowing how to listen is very important in communicating with other people and, although we do not always realize it, sometimes we spend more time paying attention to what we think and what we say instead of actively listening to others.
Active listening is not only paying attention to the words that come out of the other interlocutor’s mouth, but is to be fully aware of emotions and the non-verbal language that the other person is trying to communicate.
Active listening is really important when it comes to communicating effectively with other people.
2. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is a very important social skill for many reasons. The assertive person expresses his opinion appropriately and defends his point of view, always respecting the opinion of others. Thus, assertiveness is key to communicating efficiently with other individuals, but also for our own emotional well-being.
Emotional validation is the understanding and expression of acceptance of another person’s emotional experience, and improves interpersonal relationships since the other interlocutor feels understood and recognized. When someone feels that he is being understood emotionally, her trust in the other person increases and he is able to open up, that is, verbalize what he thinks and feels. It is essential to create a good relationship with other individuals
4. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and know what they feel or even what they may be thinking
Therefore, it is necessary to be able to have interpersonal relationships with other individuals and to know how to behave in front of others and adapt to their needs and moods in real time, without waiting for explicit statements to occur.
Empathy, furthermore, is key to adapting to social situations in which we are in front of an audience, in which we do not focus on the gestures of a specific person but rather we focus on the general context.
5. Negotiation skills
When we share everyday life with people It is necessary to have good negotiation skills Whether with co-workers or with your partner, knowing how to negotiate is a necessary skill because it can avoid many conflicts and we also avoid having to deal with many problems due to not knowing how to defend our interests or, on the contrary, constantly bringing up unnecessary conflicts. .
Additionally, conflict can arise in any relationship, and learning to manage it and negotiate is a healthy and essential way to make relationships work.
6. Respect
People are more willing to interact with us if we show respect for their beliefs, values and ideas. In addition to respecting your way of thinking, Respect can be expressed with eye contact that indicates sincerity so that people feel taken into consideration.
Lack of respect is one of the attitudes that we hate the most and that, in some cases, is difficult to leave behind, which is why it gives rise to cases of resentment and lack of trust.
7. Credibility
Showing yourself as a credible person is necessary to gain trust with others and, furthermore, persuade an audience. As with respect, credibility makes people show themselves as they are and be more receptive. You always have to be consistent with what you say and do.
8. Compassion
Nobody is perfect and, therefore, we can all make mistakes Sometimes we are very hard on others, even if they have not done something in bad faith.
Being compassionate is key to dealing with other individuals, and acceptance and forgiveness help improve our well-being. It is also based on a very socially functional idea: that the context can lead people to make mistakes, and that it is important to know how to give second chances if there are indications that they can learn from their mistakes.
You may be interested: “Forgiveness: should I or should I not forgive the person who hurt me?”
9. Positive thinking
Living life in a negative way will influence how we see the world and, therefore, how we relate to others. Having a positive mindset and facing situations with optimism is one of the best ways to live And, furthermore, it attracts other people.
Article to delve deeper into positive thinking: “25 positive phrases to live day to day with optimism”
10. Emotional regulation
Emotional regulation is a key concept when we live with other individuals and is a necessary skill for life. This is one of the most important social skills when it comes to channel and express our emotional side in an appropriate way and without letting it make us lose sight of medium and long-term goals In this way, we do not focus only on the impulses of the moment, and we make emotions work in our favor.
Being aware of and regulating our own emotions is necessary and at the same time helps us to better develop our ability to promote our own well-being and that of others.
11. Open-mindedness
A mind free of prejudices and stereotypes is a strength which helps you relate to different people and adapt better to your environment. Mental rigidity and intolerance are undoubtedly a limitation for interpersonal relationships.
You may be interested: “5 ways of thinking that can limit your mind”
12. Patience
Being patient is one of the great virtues we can possess, especially when we refer to the social environment. If we do not master this skill, anything can bother us and become a big problem. Patience helps you stay relaxed and avoid being more tense than necessary Before exploding in a fit of anger, it is better to take a few seconds to reconsider. A good way to improve this skill is through Mindfulness.
13. Courtesy
When we are courteous and polite to other people they will rarely be ungrateful to us Behave respectfully and politely with others and you will see how things go much better for you. Being gentle and kind is always a plus.
14. Know how to express yourself
Knowing how to express yourself is key when we interact with others Regarding verbal language, it is necessary to be clear and convey the message we want to others. This seems easy, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Using concrete examples, having good improvisation skills, vocalizing correctly or considering timing are useful strategies.
Featured article: “The 10 basic communication skills”
