Soft skills. We’ve written about them before, and we’ll keep writing about them. Why? Because according to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2023, the soft skills of “leadership and social influence” were 9th on the list of most important skills for 2023. By 2027, this skill set is predicted to be the fourth most important skill set. Social intelligence is a necessity for social influence.
Also sitting in the top ten most important skills in 2027 are: resilience, flexibility, and agility (5th place), motivation and self-awareness (9th place) and empathy and active listening (10th place). Different thinking skills take up three of the top ten spots and technology related skills also take up three of the top ten spots.
“The best mechanic in a factory may fail as a foreman for lack of social intelligence”, so said Edward Thorndike, a prominent American psychologist and researcher. He was also racist and sexist so that’s all we’d like to say about him. Still, he has a point. So often people with amazing technical abilities are promoted into leadership roles. But the ability to write code or fix an engine is not an accurate predictor of how well a person can work with other people, display empathy, resolve conflicts, and guide team members through times of change. That said, these skills can all be learned; and the winning formula is self-awareness + social intelligence = social influence.
Self awareness
Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence, according to Daniel Goleman. Without self-awareness, one will find it very difficult to build up and demonstrate all the other components of emotional intelligence. Self-awareness takes honest reflection, being able to identify, name and understand thoughts and feeling as they arise. A useful tool is to reflect on all the moods, reactions and emotions you’ve experienced throughout the day. Understanding why each emotion arose is an important part of building self-awareness. Feedback from others can help build self-awareness, by pointing out how one comes across and is perceived at work because of how they behave and communicate. More on this later.
Social intelligence
Social intelligence can be described as the ability to perceive, understand, and navigate the intricacies of human interactions effectively. It encompasses a wide range of skills, including empathy, active listening, emotional regulation, and the capacity to adapt your behaviour and communication style to different contexts and people.
Let’s home in on this concept of adapting to the people you are interacting with. For some of us, we have this incredible in-built radar system that allows us to easily identify how we need to adapt our behaviour and communication style to put others at ease, doing it in a different way for different people. There is no one-size-fits-all for this. So as a manager, team leader, salesperson, client relationship manager, or any other person who must engage and influence people as part of their job, having a toolbox of techniques for identifying how to adapt to different people is essential.
This is why social intelligence training should be on the learning and development agenda for anyone who works with people.
Before we get into what social intelligence training looks like, it’s important to understand what social intelligence is not.
Social intelligence is not …
Manipulation – while you could argue that the art of influence is manipulation on some level, the concept of manipulation tends to carry a less than good connotation. Social intelligence is not about deceiving others for personal gain or for power. It’s about fostering genuine connections and understanding.
Being a social butterfly – being socially intelligent doesn’t mean you’re the life of the party. In fact, when you have social intelligence tools, you’ll understand why you don’t want to be the life of the party and why others don’t want to be. Introverts and extroverts alike can both be socially intelligent.
It’s not just about being nice – while kindness is important, social intelligence goes beyond mere politeness. It involves deep understanding and meaningful engagement with others.
So why is social intelligence so important?
Effective communication. In a workplace, communication breakdowns can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiencies. Social intelligence ensures clear and empathetic communication, reducing workplace conflicts.
Conflict resolution. Workplace conflicts can be detrimental if not handled properly. Socially intelligent professionals can mediate and resolve conflicts swiftly and amicably, fostering a more harmonious work environment.
Leadership and collaboration. Effective leadership involves understanding and motivating team members. Socially intelligent leaders can inspire and engage their teams, leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction.
Networking and career advancement. Building professional networks is essential for career growth. Socially intelligent individuals can create and maintain valuable connections that open doors to opportunities.
Workplace wellbeing. A harmonious workplace is conducive to well-being. Socially intelligent professionals experience less workplace stress and are more likely to enjoy job satisfaction.
Social intelligence is not just a desirable trait; it’s an essential skill for navigating the complex web of human interactions. By cultivating social intelligence, we can enhance both our personal and professional lives, ultimately contributing to a more harmonious and connected world.
If you are ready to embark on the journey of understanding and developing your social intelligence, check out our Social Style social intelligence training. By using self-report and multi-rater questionnaires about your behaviour before the workshop, you’ll get a rich picture of your behaviour and communication style, propelling your self-awareness to new heights. Then you learn to read the right cues to understand what makes others tick. Armed with this information, you can adjust your behaviour and communication style according to each person. This empowers you to build meaningful connections, resolve conflicts, and lead with empathy.
By investing in the development of workplace social intelligence, you not only enhance your own career prospects but also contribute to a more collaborative and thriving workplace culture. So, embrace the power of social intelligence, and watch your professional journey reach new heights.
Find out more here.
