Social skills play a significant role in our everyday living. Without these skills, we would be incapable of accomplishing any task.

They say that no man is an island, at some point, we’ll have to interact with other people. Social skills help us comfortably make interactions.

Research done in recent years has shown that a relationship exists between learning and emotional intelligence. Our social skills are a big part of our emotional intelligence.

Social Skills

Here’s a list of essential skills that everyone needs and how they can master them:

1. Problem-Solving Skills

Rubik’s Cube is among the tools that can help boost our problem-solving abilities, while at the same time be fun

Problem-solving skills are an essential part of our social skills. This is mainly because conflicts and disagreements will always come about as a result of our social interactions. Your ability to compromise and live with it helps you work well with others.

Without these skills, chances of you settling disagreements will be futile, and you’ll be less likely to see other peoples’ perspectives, teamwork boosts your performance, and problem-solving skills help you maintain these teams.

2. Communication Skills

Speaking and listening skills are vital social skills. Our ability to listen to others and respond as required is crucial. Being a good listener is part of having effective communication skills. Expressing yourself to others will only be useful when we take the time to understand what they are saying. You can only be heard when you show genuine interest in other people and what they have to say.

Communication skills are vital

Consider a scenario where you have challenges communicating with others, probably due to the language barrier. Chances are the social aspect of your life will not be as developed as it ought to be. Excellent social skills also imply bridging the language barrier gap.

3. Being Considerate and Courteous

You may be an excellent listener or speaker but lack respect and being considerate of others or the situation they are going through. Your choice of words in any social setting must be in line with that particular context. Some circumstances dictate formality while others the opposite, your social skills should help you identify these conditions and help you act accordingly.

Before you can start any conversation, salutations are necessary. People notice such things including when we thank them or apologize for wrongdoing. It’s a great way of building the trust essential for having successful social relationships. Even our writing should reflect consideration and courtesy; a good example is writing articles that don’t harm but rather enhance our social relationships.

4. Curiosity and Open-Mindedness

Have an open-mind, and the willingness to explore other possibilities or options



Entering into a conversation with a fixed mindset limits us from seeing other opportunities and ideas that can be exploited. Our level of curiosity and being open-minded are crucial social skills. The two help communicate with those around us effectively. Having an open mind allows you to listen to what others have to say and accept what they are proposing.

5. Body Language

Eye contact and body posture are tools that improve our communication. It’s therefore pertinent that we pay attention to the nonverbal gestures. People may not always be in a position to express their feelings using words but will drop physical cues that can give you a hint of how they honestly feel. Non-verbal gestures are an essential part of communication.

6. Always Be Aware of Your Surrounding

Each social setting will dictate how we behave and communicate with those around us. Our social skills will be effective when we have a thorough understanding of our surroundings. Knowing when to speak and how to makes our social skills superior. Being aware of your surroundings is an essential social skill that you can’t do without.

7. Stay Positive

Nobody wants to hang out with someone always complaining and negative. We will always have challenges thrown our way, but what counts is how we overcome them. Importantly, we have to go through them while staying positive. Regardless of your circumstances try being the kind of person who sees the glass half full rather than half empty.

Be optimistic in every situation, it is inspiring for those around you and people do appreciate that. Therefore, try to stay positive at all times and in every case.

8. Accept Criticism

No need for defensiveness when critiqued. We aren’t perfect and will make mistakes from time to time. A lot of us fail because we never want to see any fault on ourselves. The truth is if we all took a step back and work on our shortcomings I think the world would be a better place.

Well, accepting criticism is an issue we have to deal with, no need to be rude or disrespectful when corrected. Even when being critiqued and you’re right, calmly listen then justify your actions with reasons to the other party.

9. Taking Responsibility

Always be responsible for your actions and utterances. It will save you from engaging in social evils. I think the moment we learn to be accountable for our actions we will stop participating in unnecessary activities. Accountability is what makes us be responsible for people.

I think parents should instill this skill as a child grows. Only speak and act when you know you can stand by your words and actions.

10. Abiding By the Laws

In every setting rules and laws exist. Being respectful and abiding by them is an essential social skill. Laws are what keeps a society together. We have to respect the rules and regulations that have been set for us regardless of who we are, remember “no one is above the law.”

People are keen on this issue, in fact, you may miss out on social life because of your constant breaking of the rules. Very few of us are comfortable hanging out in the same social circle with such individuals.

Ways to Master These Skills

The skills identified above can only be mastered through patience and constant practice. Nobody is born with perfect social skills, but instead, it takes an effort to cultivate them. Your parents, friends, and teachers can help you to develop these skills.

They are habits that we grow over time, and a reason as to why the role played by parents and teachers is critical in learning them. I have discussed a list of tools in the following section that helps with mastering the skills.

Here’s a list of three tools that can guide you learn social skills:

1. Games

There are numerous games available for us to enhance our communication skills from reading, writing and speaking. Other games include those for improving our problem-solving skills. Mad Libs, the telephone game, and Rubik’s Cube are among the long list of games available. The essence of these games is to let you interact with others and enhance your social skills.

2. Practice

Practice makes perfect, and without training our social skills, they will never develop. You can role-play to gain the necessary practice. Everyday interactions are also a good source of exercise. Frankly speaking the point you’re right now, the social skills you have developed is all because of the practice you’ve been doing from the moment you could talk.

Even though each day is a chance to put your skills to use, it’s another day to perfect it since it’s also an opportunity to practice.

3. Stories

Stories are an excellent guide to enhancing our social skills. You’ll pick a thing or two from them that will help your social skills develop. Our teachers, friends or parents will often have a story to tell; the idea is for you to listen and pick thoughts that can help you out.

Conclusion

Learning goes beyond the information that you get from books. Emotional intelligence (EI) affects the quality of our learning. The level to which our social skills are developed dictates our EI level. The social skills identified in this article and the tools that we can use to master them will help us perfect these skills.

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