Why are social skills important? Plus tips to improve them
Socialising with others is essential to building relationships and managing different social situations in the workplace and your personal life.
Read on if you struggle with speaking to strangers or communicating with your co-workers. We have plenty of information and tips to help you improve your social skills.
Here's what we'll cover:
- What are social skills?
- Why are social skills important at work?
- Why you should develop better social skills at work
- How to improve your social skills at work
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What are social skills?
What are examples of social skills? Social skills are the verbal and nonverbal communication skills you use to build relationships with people, including colleagues, clients, customers, and even the “mak ciks” that work around your office.
Verbal communication refers specifically to spoken language. Nonverbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and tone of voice. Social skills are sometimes known as interpersonal skills or soft skills.
They help you make friends, earn respect, and feel comfortable speaking to people you meet for the first time.
Why are social skills important at work?
Here are some reasons why you should be working on developing your social skills at work:
- Enhances team collaboration: Having solid social skills means we can work better in teams. When we communicate well, trust each other, and respect everyone's input, teamwork becomes incredibly effective.
- Facilitate conflict resolution: Let's face it, conflicts happen. But with strong social skills, we could handle them calmly and constructively. By listening, understanding, and finding common ground, we will resolve conflicts smoothly.
- Promotes a positive workplace culture: Have you ever noticed how a positive work environment feels better? That's because good social skills create a culture of respect, support, and inclusivity. It's the kind of atmosphere where everyone thrives.
- Increase adaptability: Work could throw curveballs, right? Social skills help us adapt to change and work well with different people and situations. It's like having a superpower for navigating the twists and turns of the workplace.
- Reduces miscommunication: Miscommunication could cause all sorts of problems. However, with strong social skills, we can communicate clearly, avoid misunderstandings, and keep everyone on the same page.
- Effective leadership and influence: Want to be a leader? Social skills are essential. By inspiring, motivating, and leading by example, we bring out the best in our teams and drive success.
In short, social skills aren't just nice to have—they're essential for creating a productive, harmonious, and successful workplace.
Why you should develop better social skills at work
Here are five outcomes that show the importance of social skills at work:
1. Enhanced communication and collaboration
Social development skills help you communicate more efficiently and effectively. Whether you're writing emails or presenting at a team meeting, strong social skills will help you convey your ideas well.
They also help you give clear instructions and solve problems. This increases understanding and collaboration with others.
Soft skills also involve helping others and being approachable. With greater cooperation and communication, your team could work well together and be more productive.
2. Stronger relationships and networking
You should build positive bonds with your co-workers using your social skills. They also help you form connections at conferences or networking events.
Knowing how to build and maintain productive relationships helps you access new opportunities. These could include securing new clients for the company or learning firsthand about job openings.
3. Improved conflict resolution
Conflicts are bound to happen in the workplace. Social skills help to clear misunderstandings and miscommunication. You could diffuse tense situations through your voice and careful choice of words. These skills will help you restore and repair your work relationships.
With clear, effective communication, there are fewer chances of misunderstandings. This helps to keep workplace conflicts to a minimum. It also reduces the chances of making errors at work.
4. Increased job satisfaction and career advancement
Interpersonal skills improve connections between people at work. You want to help others, communicate pleasantly, and work well with your colleagues.
When you have healthy relationships, going to work is more enjoyable. It also increases your motivation and productivity, leading to better performance. This will lead to promotions and career advancement.
5. Leadership potential
Individuals with well-developed soft skills also tend to have strong leadership qualities. They motivate and inspire others, build trust, and foster collaboration, which are good examples of social goals for which to strive. These abilities make them strong job seekers for leadership positions.
With strong interpersonal skills, you enjoy better relationships at work. This helps you be a better leader, as people are likelier to listen to someone they like. Leading and motivating a team to achieve company goals becomes easier.
How to improve your social skills at work
You might be wondering “How to improve social skills?” Well, worry not. Now that you know their importance, here are 16 useful tips to help you out:
1. Make an effort to remember people's names
Remembering the names of your colleagues, clients, vendors, and customers will make them feel valued and respected. It also communicates that they're important to you and that you genuinely care about your relationship with them.
Here are some tips to remember people's names:
- Make associations: Make as many associations as you with their names. For instance, if someone says their name is Aishah, and you have a teacher named Aishah, imagine them teaching a class. You can also make up a rhyme, such as "Aishah the Geisha", to remember the name.
- Repeat their name: When they introduce themselves, immediately repeat their name. Focusing on their name for one or two seconds can help you remember it.
- Use their name in conversations: As you talk to them, use their name early in the conversation. Mention it here and there while speaking. This strengthens the connection between you and that person, helping you to remember their name.
2. Make an effort to get to know them
Relating healthily with your colleagues helps to create a positive work environment. It can increase your job satisfaction and boost your motivation at work. Build rapport with your co-workers by joining group lunches or tea time at the mamak.
You can also participate in team-building activities and company events. For instance, participate in your team's company walkathon or dinner dance. Initiate small talk and find out about their hobbies. Try to remember their birthdays and celebrate with them.
3. Develop your emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise and understand your and others' emotions. You then use that information to guide your behaviour and respond appropriately.
The main components of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and relationship management. Improving your emotional intelligence can enhance your interpersonal relations.
Developing your emotional intelligence involves observing how others react in various situations. Reflect on how your meetings and interactions went, whether positive or negative.
Journal your thoughts to identify patterns in your behaviours and reactions. These steps can help you be more aware of your emotions and actions.
4. Offer praise and positive feedback
Receiving praise and recognition for their hard work can make people feel appreciated. This can motivate them to give more effort and create a healthy work culture. You can offer genuine praise in person, by email, or through the company's instant messaging platform.
Be specific about what the person has done well to make it meaningful. This helps to encourage them to repeat that action.
Give praise as soon as you notice the positive action. Use your voice, gestures, and expressions to emphasise your appreciation for their work.
5. Listen actively
Make eye contact with the person you're speaking to and nod from time to time to show your interest in the conversation.
You can also paraphrase what they've said to show that you're listening actively. This can help you remember what they shared and strengthen your relationship with team members.
6. Ask open-ended questions
Asking open-ended questions can show your interest in the conversation and make it more engaging. Your teammates may appreciate that you're keen on listening to their ideas.
This can create a positive impact on your relationship. It can also help you gain a deeper understanding of the person.
Here are some examples of open-ended questions:
- "Can you tell me more about...?"
- "What do you think of...?"
- “How do you feel about…?”
- "How do you think we could improve on...?"
7. Take a genuine interest in your co-worker's life
Make an effort to get to know your co-workers personally. It's important to see them as people with lives outside of work. Try to learn about their families, their favourite food spots in Malaysia, and their interests without being intrusive.
It's important to respect people's privacy and boundaries. For example, avoid asking about their marital status, children, or parents unless they offer that information first.
If they're willing to share, listen intently and ask appropriate follow-up questions. Find shared experiences and connect over those.
8. Be observant of others
Read the body language of the people around you. Observe what their posture, facial expressions, and gestures are saying.
Pay attention to their words and tone of voice. For example, if someone continues to sigh, they might be feeling stressed or upset.
By observing and understanding their body language, you could adapt your communication style to better connect with them.
9. Socialise in neutral environments
Neutral environments are places outside of work that are equally familiar to everyone. It could be a coffee shop, meeting room, or public space. This levels the playing field and eases the pressure of social interactions.
Consider organising or participating in casual gatherings outside of work. For example, you may ask a colleague to meet for coffee at a cafe after work to build your relationship with them.
10. Get to social gatherings early
You may feel more comfortable when you arrive early at gatherings. It gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with the environment and prepare yourself to interact with others. It could also be less overwhelming, as there are fewer people there.
You can talk with people individually. And as more arrive, you could network in groups and create rapport. Arriving early also shows you're eager and excited to participate in team activities.
11. Have a script
Prepare a couple of go-to topics or questions as conversation starters. It could be a recent football game, the weather, or the latest technology.
You may also discuss recent non-religious and non-political news. Avoid relying too much on scripts to keep the conversations natural and spontaneous.
12. Understand established norms and rules
Learn about the cultural norms, etiquette, and expectations at work. Observe how people interact with each other across various levels.
You might notice whether employees call their bosses by their first names or if certain topics make people uncomfortable. This would help you avoid embarrassing situations for yourself and others. It also ensures that your conversations are respectful.
13. Bring other people into the conversation
Take note of quiet or shy colleagues and try to include them in conversations. Direct questions at them to get them to share their thoughts.
Then, make some positive comments about what they said. This helps to make everyone feel valued and heard. It also creates an inclusive and welcoming work culture.
14. Be aware of your energy level
Energy levels vary from person to person. Some people may get exhausted quickly from networking. Understand when your energy levels are highest and lowest, and know your limits.
Try to interact with others when you're at your liveliest. Take breaks, and manage your energy levels by doing things that help you to recharge.
15. Avoid controversial topics
Avoid divisive or sensitive topics, such as politics, sex, money, and religion, in the workplace. Such topics would make things awkward or even result in heated conversations.
To encourage positive interactions, choose safe conversation topics, such as weekend plans, local restaurants, hobbies, technology, or social media trends.
16. Keep things light and positive
Focus on pleasant topics to create a positive environment. Give compliments and encourage others. Avoid sharing negative news stories or discussing serious topics with people you just met. Following these tips will help uplift the overall mood in the workplace.
Conclusion
You might be wondering, “Why do I struggle with social skills?” Even if great social skills aren't your natural gifts, you will learn them.
Reflect on your behaviour, and be intentional about acquiring specific skills. Exposing yourself to different situations and environments lessens social anxiety.
Strengthen your social interaction skills to build healthy bonds, boost your morale, and improve your leadership capabilities. Doing this helps you climb higher up the career ladder.
FAQs
Here are answers to some common questions about social interaction skills:
- What are the key social skills in the workplace?
These include communication skills, cooperation, leadership, relationship-building, and empathy. Active listening and conflict resolution are also essential.
- How can I assess and improve my social skills?
Reflect on your behaviour and journal it down. Think about how you could have responded better in a situation. Then, challenge yourself to improve in that aspect with practice.
For example, if you think you didn't hold a conversation with a stranger very well, look for occasions to speak to people you don't know.
- Are social skills more important than technical skills in a job?
This depends on the nature of the job. Some jobs, such as sales, require strong soft skills to build rapport with clients and customers.
Other jobs place more emphasis on technical skills, such as engineering and accountancy. Regardless of the job, interpersonal skills are essential to any workplace if you work with others.
- Can poor social skills hinder career advancement?
What does it mean to lack social skills?
Unfortunately, poor social skills will lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and conflict at work. They also cause unhealthy relationships at work and weaken your morale.
This will affect your motivation and productivity levels and hinder your career advancement.
- What are some effective exercises for developing social skills
Working on your communication skills improves your interpersonal relations at work. Observe the body language of others and reflect on what they mean.
Think about your responses and behaviour and journal them. Be an active listener, and expose yourself to different social situations.
