How to Improve Social Skills

Self-doubt and a lack of confidence can often prevent us from being the social people we'd like to be in public. Social skills are vital to successful careers and personal relationships. Fortunately, social skills can improve. Learn how to improve your social skills and be more comfortable in outside environments.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Be aware of your own interaction with other people. Identify which behaviors and situations make you uncomfortable. Think about how you can modify your own behavior to turn it into a positive experience.

2. Ask others for honest feedback regarding you interaction with others. This can be very helpful, though you must accept the negative feedback that comes along with the positive and make changes accordingly. You must also be comfortable apologizing to others if you acted in the wrong.

3. Use positive body language when relating to other people. Use direct eye contact, face the person you're speaking to and avoid fidgeting or being inattentive. Body language is at times more important than the actual words being spoken.

4. Learn to truly listen to what the other person is saying. You may need to fight the urge to quickly rebuttal or respond after a thought comes to mind, but, out of respect, it is your duty to listen to his complete statement and then respond.

5. Attempt to change one or two behaviors at a time. Trying to overhaul your whole personality at once will be exhausting, overwhelming, and likely impossible.

6. Maximize your positive personality traits. Ask friends and family about your positive attributes, and let them shine while interacting with others. Good communication and great listening skills your most important tools.

7. Be approachable. Body language and facial expression are cues others take when deciding if someone is approachable. If you are interested in others coming your way, be open, happy and inviting.

[Foxtrotkid]

on 7/21/2008 First of all, I want to say I think it's great that there are people out there wanting to help other people, including yourself, however, I'm tired of finding lists of how to's that more or less, list off things "to do" without saying "how" to do those things. Sure you might have an idea of what "positive body language" is, however if someone reading this doesn't then they haven't understood what it is in detail and how specifcally to project it. Even a follow up link to the subject would be helpful. Again, I think it's great, but please go into more detail, write an example or put up a link to the subject.