9 Proven Ways To Sharpen Your Social Skills

Humans are designed to be social. Socializing is how we communicate our wants & needs, form bonds, resolve problems, and get tasks done efficiently as a team. Not surprisingly, socialization can be beneficial in our personal lives, professional lives, and beyond. However, not everyone has adept social skills.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Here are several ways you can enhance your social skills today, which can ultimately improve your life:

1. Maintain Eye Contact

   Appearing interested in a conversation isn’t just about how we respond, the facial expressions we make, and the tone in our voice. It also has to do with how we maintain eye contact. This simple act can also make us appear more confident to the people we are speaking to.

2. Listen to Podcasts

   There are many self-help podcasts out there, including ones geared towards helping people learn new social skills and communication tips. Podcasts like these can be comforting and inspiring for anyone who is fearful about sharpening their social skills.

3. Don’t Forget to Listen

   A big problem many of us make when socializing with others is wanting to always be the center of the conversation. But a conversation is a two-way street. We must be as good of a listener as we are talkers to keep the conversation going in a healthy manner.

4. Keep on Top of the News

   Staying in touch with current events, whether local or worldwide, can give you ideas of things to talk about with others. When you’re in tune with the news, you’ll never run out of topics to discuss.

5. Ask Questions

   When the conversation gets stale, one of the best things to do to keep a conversation going is to ask questions. Asking questions can also help enlighten you while making the other person feel that you are interested in them and their conversation with you.

6. Give a Compliment to Someone

   As hard as it may be at times, giving someone, stranger or otherwise, a compliment can be a big social move. This can be a great conversation starter and even help you make friends easier.

7. Join a Club

   One way to get yourself out of your comfort zone and get more social is to join a club. This can be intimidating at first, but after the first few club meetings, you’ll find yourself more comfortable with the people in the club and with socializing with them.

8. Don’t Put So Much Pressure on Yourself

   The more pressure you put on yourself to improve your social skills, the more you may feel discouraged. Instead, know that it takes time to get to where you need to be. It’s important to celebrate all the small achievements along the way.

9. Consider Professional Help

   In cases where your social skills may be seriously lacking, sometimes professional help is the best way to go. Social anxiety treatment can be a great way to help one get out of their shell and learn to view socialization in a more positive manner.

Conclusion

Developing proper social skills can take time and effort. Although, the results can be well worth it in the end. Socializing in all the right ways can truly make a difference in one’s life for the better, from increasing one’s shot at landing a new job to helping one make friends easily.