Social Skills

—Building Relationships

Introduction

Social skills are the foundations of a civil society.

Social skills are essential for effective communication and building positive relationships. These are the foundations of a civil society.

Whereas the virtues are intrinsically valuable human traits that represent excellence in being for the good, the social skills described here identify specific techniques and practices that can help you attain excellence and live wisely. Practice these skills to align your actions with virtuous intent, especially concerning the virtues of civility, compassion, tolerance, and good faith.

Each of the skills listed are linked to materials that discuss that skill in more depth. Click on those links that interest you.

A Collection of Social Skills

Various social skills help us meet several needs and achieve goals. These social skills are organized and further explained below. Click on those links that interest you.

Social Skills Audio Dialogue

Emotional Competency

Emotional Competency—the skill to recognize, interpret, and respond constructively to emotions in yourself and others—is the foundation of skillful social interactions. To improve your social skills, work on improving your emotional competency.

Compete the Wikiversity course on Studying Emotional Competency. Continue to improve your social skills by improving your emotional competency.

Communicating

Communicating is the skill of expressing ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and non-verbally.

1. Communication Skills: Expressing ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and non-verbally.
2. Small Talk: Engaging in light and casual conversation to establish connections and rapport.
3. Dialogue: Creative thinking together with the purpose of gaining insight.
4. Active Listening: Paying full attention and responding appropriately to others.
5. Nonverbal Communication: Being aware of and using body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
6. Positive Body Language: Using open and inviting body language to convey friendliness and approachability.
7. Tactfulness: Being diplomatic and considerate in your communication, especially when discussing sensitive topics.
8. Patience: Maintaining composure and tolerance in challenging or frustrating situations.
9. Diplomacy: Handling delicate situations with sensitivity and discretion.
10. Candor: Genuine conversations.
11. Feedback Receptivity: Being open to constructive criticism and feedback, and using it for personal growth.

Exploring

We explore social settings to find new connections and possibilities.

1. Networking: Building and maintaining relationships with a variety of people.
2. Small Talk: Engaging in light and casual conversation to establish connections and rapport.
3. Networking Etiquette: Understanding and following appropriate behaviors in professional networking situations.
4. Digital Communication: Effectively communicating through emails, social media, and other online platforms.

Connecting

We connect with others when we learn about them, share ourselves, care, and feel that we belong.

1. Friendship Building: Initiating and maintaining friendships through positive interactions.
2. Small Talk: Engaging in light and casual conversation to establish connections and rapport.
3. Tactfulness: Being diplomatic and considerate in your communication, especially when discussing sensitive topics.
4. Candor: Communicating accurately and effectively to gain a common understanding.
5. Mindfulness: Being fully present and engaged in the current moment, avoiding distractions.
6. Emotional Competency: The skills to recognize, interpret, and respond constructively to emotions in yourself and others.
7. Patience: Maintaining composure and tolerance in challenging or frustrating situations.
8. Self-Control: Managing emotions and reactions in a calm and composed manner.
9. Diplomacy: Handling delicate situations with sensitivity and discretion.
10. Feedback Receptivity: Being open to constructive criticism and feedback, and using it for personal growth.
11. Generosity: Sharing resources, time, and support with others without expecting anything in return.
12. Witnessing: Observing and acknowledging the experiences, emotions, and actions of others.
13. Apologizing: Expressing remorse and accepting responsibility for the injury you have caused to strengthen your relationship.  
14. Forgiving: Deciding to release yourself from anger, resentment, hate, or the urge for revenge despite the injury you suffered.

Showing Respect

We demonstrate our respect of others when we acknowledge their intrinsic value and human dignity.

1. Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
2. Social Etiquette: Understanding and following social norms and manners.
3. Cultural Sensitivity: Being aware and respectful of different cultures and customs.
4. Cultural Competence: Understanding, respecting, and adapting to diverse cultural backgrounds.
5. Adaptability: Adjusting to different social situations and being open to change.
6. Expressing Gratitude: Expressing appreciation and acknowledging the efforts and kindness of others.
7. Emotional Competency: The skills to recognize, interpret, and respond constructively to emotions in yourself and others.
8. Time Management: Being punctual and respecting others' time.
9. Tactfulness: Being diplomatic and considerate in your communication, especially when discussing sensitive topics.
10. Intellectual Honesty: Accurately communicating true beliefs.
11. Punctuality: Being on time for appointments and commitments, showing respect for others' time.
12. Patience: Maintaining composure and tolerance in challenging or frustrating situations.
13. Self-Control: Managing emotions and reactions in a calm and composed manner.
14. Diplomacy: Handling delicate situations with sensitivity and discretion.
15. Feedback Receptivity: Being open to constructive criticism and feedback, and using it for personal growth.
16. Apologizing: Expressing remorse and accepting responsibility for the injury you have caused to strengthen your relationship.  

Resilience

Resilience is our ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintaining a positive attitude.

1. Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and maintaining a positive attitude.
2. Emotional Competency: The skills to recognize, interpret, and respond constructively to emotions in yourself and others.
3. Patience: Maintaining composure and tolerance in challenging or frustrating situations.
4. Self-Control: Managing emotions and reactions in a calm and composed manner.
5. Grace Under Pressure: Maintaining composure and poise in high-pressure situations.
6. Forgiving: Deciding to release yourself from anger, resentment, hate, or the urge for revenge despite the injury you suffered.

Collaborating

Collaborating is our ability to work effectively with others to achieve shared objectives.

1. Collaboration: Working effectively with others to achieve shared objectives.
2. Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with others to achieve common goals.
3. Negotiation Skills: Finding mutually beneficial solutions in discussions and negotiations.
4. Conflict Resolution: Resolving disagreements and conflicts in a constructive manner.
5. Time Management: Being punctual and respecting others' time.
6. Punctuality: Being on time for appointments and commitments, showing respect for others' time.
7. Patience: Maintaining composure and tolerance in challenging or frustrating situations.
8. Leadership Skills: Inspiring and motivating others, taking initiative, and guiding a group toward common goals.
9. Self-Control: Managing emotions and reactions in a calm and composed manner.
10. Diplomacy: Handling delicate situations with sensitivity and discretion.
11. Feedback Receptivity: Being open to constructive criticism and feedback, and using it for personal growth.
12. Conflict Management: Dealing with conflicts proactively and finding solutions that benefit all parties involved.
13. Status Leveling: A nuanced social skill that involves managing and equalizing perceived status differentials within a given social context.

Solving Problems

We solve problems to find solutions to challenges and make decisions in a group setting.

1. Problem-Solving: Finding solutions to challenges and making decisions in a group setting.
2. Patience: Maintaining composure and tolerance in challenging or frustrating situations.
3. Diplomacy: Handling delicate situations with sensitivity and discretion.
4. Crisis Management: Remaining calm and composed during difficult situations and providing support to others.
5. Grace Under Pressure: Maintaining composure and poise in high-pressure situations.

Advocating

We advocate to influence the group members toward understanding and accommodating our point-of-view.

1. Assertiveness: Expressing one's thoughts, feelings, and needs in a respectful way.
2. Confidence: Having a positive self-image and projecting self-confidence.
3. Candor: Communicating accurately and effectively to gain a common understanding.

Learning

We inquire to learn and understand others’ points of view.

1. Open-mindedness: Being receptive to different ideas, perspectives, and opinions without judgment.
2. Active Listening: Paying full attention and responding appropriately to others.
3. Dialogue: Creative thinking together with the purpose of gaining insight.
4. Candor: Communicating accurately and effectively to gain a common understanding.

Self-Awareness

We are self-aware when we know and understanding our own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.

1. Self-Awareness: Knowing and understanding one's own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
2. Emotional Competency: The skills to recognize, interpret, and respond constructively to emotions in yourself and others.
3. Confidence: Having a positive self-image and projecting self-confidence.
4. Mindfulness: Being fully present and engaged in the current moment, avoiding distractions.
5. Feedback Receptivity: Being open to constructive criticism and feedback, and using it for personal growth.
6. Grace Under Pressure: Maintaining composure and poise in high-pressure situations.
7. Forgiving: Deciding to release yourself from anger, resentment, hate, or the urge for revenge despite the injury you suffered.

Fun

Fun is pure pleasure without harm to ourselves or others.

1. Humor: Using appropriate humor to connect with others and lighten the mood.
2. Small Talk: Engaging in light and casual conversation to establish connections and rapport.

Remember, social skills are dynamic, and they can be developed and improved over time with practice and self-reflection. Continuous effort in refining these skills can lead to more fulfilling and positive interactions with others.

Developing and honing these social skills can contribute to more effective communication and improved relationships in various personal and professional.