Everyone wants to shine and be accepted by people. If your goal is to achieve a successful personal and professional life, you will need the help of others. And, in order to feel accepted and get along with others, you need to focus on developing your social skills to gain more attention.
For someone who is just beginning to develop their social skills, here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Always have a ready smile
A person with an approachable outlook is likely to attract people who smile back and start talking. A grim face makes people back off and wary that you’re not open for a chat.
2. Have simple questions ready to start a conversation
Questions like age, status in life, last school attended, or anything about family. She can also think of ready answers that may come up along the way, questions she thinks might be asked related to the occasion.
3. Take an interest in the conversation
Do not show boredom towards the person you are talking to. Be responsible for taking an interest in what the person is talking about. It’s your own fault if you get bored, as you have a hand in making it more interesting by asking interesting follow-up questions.
4. Get involved and stay focused
Be attentive to the person you are talking to and use give and take listening and follow up questions to live and explore the conversation. Apply your verbal and non-verbal skills. Ask appropriate questions based on related topics being discussed, establish your tone and vocal quality, and apply body movements if necessary to show your feelings.
Nodding, smiles, and eye contact are nonverbal gestures. Both verbal and nonverbal social skills make conversation valuable. Your partner will have the feeling that you give due importance to their subject, thus giving both of you the feeling of acceptance.
5. Prepare to adapt to situations
If at any point in your conversation, out of the blue, someone tries to pry in and totally twist the topic, adapt to the change. You need to have some flexibility when you are in a group meeting. This will help you to be more accepted by others. Flexibility is something that people look for when having a conversation.
6. Choose to feel relaxed
There may be times when you run out of topics to discuss and worry about what to say next. Well, relax and let the conversation continue as it is. As the saying goes: go with the flow.
No one will notice you if you just sit down when there are opportunities to talk. Be sure to get involved so that your best qualities and potential are noticed.
These tips for developing social skills will guide you toward achieving your goals. Expand your network of contacts. Remember that success is not just about money, but also about the number of friends you have made and how you live your life. Get out there and apply these social skills tips while you socialize.
