When talking about intelligence and mental abilities, the focus is usually on intelligence known as intelligence, which is the intelligence that a person is usually born with and is highly dependent on genes. However, there is another type of social intelligence, social intelligence, or SI for short. What kind of intelligence is this? What features does it have and can you improve it?
What is social intelligence?
The theory of social intelligence was first proposed by American psychologist Edward Thorndike in 1920, during which time he defined social intelligence as: the ability to understand and manage men, women, and children, and to act wisely within interpersonal relationships. The scientist also explained that social intelligence is not innate but acquired. He was born with social intelligence and even acquired a set of skills that help improve and develop his social intelligence.
Socially competent people are able to perceive the feelings of others and have the intuitive ability to speak spontaneously and fluently in a variety of social situations. You might think that these people have advanced social skills, but they are actually socially intelligent.
What are the signs of social intelligence?
Socially intelligent people have a set of qualities and characteristics that help them communicate effectively with others, and the following are the most important of these characteristics:
1- Listening skills
Socially competent people not only listen in response, but listen to others and give them their full attention, these speakers continue to speak after they They feel that the person really understands them, and they develop a subtle bond of love and respect between them
2. Dialogue skills
Have you ever seen someone who grabs everyone’s attention? These individuals are likely to have high social intelligence and advanced conversational skills. They are good at choosing words, have a decent sense of humor, and remember the small details of others, which makes conversations with them meaningful and valuable.
3. Reputation management
Socially intelligent people consider their impressions of others around them, which is one of the most complex characteristics of social intelligence.
4. Lack of arguing
If you see someone who interrupts, violates and opposes others at every meeting, it is likely that he lacks social intelligence. Socially intelligent people know that arguing and making their point by making the other person feel bad is wrong. Instead, we’ve found that he listens to others with an open mind, even when his opinions don’t agree with theirs.
How can you develop your social intelligence?
While some people can effortlessly develop their social intelligence, we’ve found that others need training and practice to acquire and develop this skill. If you are in the second group, here are some strategies to help you build your social skills and develop your social intelligence.
1- Pay attention to your surroundings
. Socially intelligent people are keen to notice and pay attention to the smallest details of those around them. So start observing the people and things around you and develop the skill of remembering other people’s details.
2. Develop Your Emotional
Emotional intelligence is particularly about processing and managing your feelings effectively, because the more you can understand your own feelings, the better you will be able to understand the feelings of others. People with high emotional intelligence can control negative emotions such as anger and frustration in social situations, which makes them more socially intelligent as well.
3- Respect different cultures
Before you do that, try to understand the cultural differences between people and countries so that you can understand them better. While most people acquire social skills from family or friends, socially competent people realize that others may have different views and customs, depending on their cultural background and upbringing. at.
4- Practice listening skills to
develop your social intelligence. Make sure you develop your communication skills, the most important of which are effective listening skills. Don’t interrupt someone while they are talking, and take a moment to think about what the other person is saying before responding. Listen to your tone of voice and understand what it really means.
5- Appreciate the people who are important to you
Socially intelligent people have deep, strong relationships that are meaningful to them. If you want to develop your social intelligence, be sure to thank the people you love. Be concerned about how your partner, best friend, or co-worker is feeling. The more you ignore the people closest to you, the more effectively you will lose opportunities to connect with them that no one else has. People with high social intelligence.
6- Learn the arts of conflict resolution
There must be some differences and conflicts in social relations, because this is inevitable in any social place. If these disagreements are not resolved properly, they can lead to permanent relationship damage and separation.
Learn and train yourself in healthy conflict resolution skills, listen to all parties to a conflict, and be impartial in disagreements that do not involve you personally. Choose your words carefully and start matching, as all of these steps ensure strong social skills.
Mastering social intelligence is not easy – if it were, we wouldn’t find any embarrassing situations in social situations. However, these skills can help make you more confident and able to form successful new relationships.
So study the social environment around you, notice what other people are doing, identify the mistakes you want to avoid, and then go ahead and apply what you’ve learned to the next situation you face. Don’t despair if you fail, failure is the quickest way to learn and gain experience.
Share with us your experiences in the most social situations that help shape your current personality, and feel free to learn about other types of intelligence through our article on the nine types of intelligence on the learning platform