Successful Tips for Improving Your Social Skills

According to Mark Tyrrell, director of Uncommon Knowledge social skills are “the most important set of abilities a person can have.”

Indeed, regardless of one’s intelligence, compassion, analytical skills or other positive features, achieving success – in business and in life – is often determined by one’s grace in the social arena.

Be Liked in Social Settings

In “Think Simple Now,” a weekly blog about “clarity, simplicity, motivation and personal happiness,” blogger Tina looks at popularity and examines what causes us to feel drawn to some people and repelled by others. One major factor seems to be whether a person focuses on themselves or those around them. Do they continuously bring the conversation back to how brilliant they are, or do they direct questions at their companions, designed to show interest and get to know them better? After a deep exploration of the issue, Tina offers ten tips on how to be liked in social settings.

Meanwhile, over at “I Need Motivation,” a blog dedicated to “improving and motivating people all over the world,” a guest writer offers four tips to improve one’s social skills. They include making eye contact during conversation, listening more than speaking, and being willing to admit when one is wrong.

Become More Outgoing

Scott Young, who once had below average social skills but now enjoys a great social life, aims to help readers who wish to follow in his footsteps.  Here in an article on improving one’s social skills, Young chooses to focus on two main issues:  Becoming more outgoing, and shedding social awkwardness. According to Scott, in order to be outgoing one must deliberately place oneself in potentially uncomfortable situations, and to shed one’s awkwardness, one must decode, follow and then occasionally break social norms.

Finally, for the determined student, there is a wealth of information to be found at “How to Do Better Socially,” subtitled “Free advice from a former shy, awkward guy.” Blogger Chris is a self-admitted former dork, nerd and weirdo, who focused on becoming an all-around more personable and well-rounded guy with decent social skills and apparently succeeded. Now he’s hoping to help others pull themselves up and out of their ruts and become more likeable, personable and sociable people. The site is a goldmine of information, with over 75 articles divided into categories such as improving one’s social skills, meeting people and making friends, nonverbal communication and more.

Try taking one suggestion at a time and using it in the field. You may find that even a small change in how you relate to others can make a world of difference.

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