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To be honest, you wouldn’t consider yourself an overly social person. You’re decent at interacting with others, but you’re more of an introvert.

There’s nothing wrong with not being the life of the party but having the ability to relate well to others — both verbally and nonverbally — at work is a must. A solid set of interpersonal skills will allow you to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers, which is why these abilities are important. Here’s some advice to help you make positive improvements.

3 Tips to Improve Your Social Skills

Request an Honest Assessment

You might have some ideas about where your interpersonal skills are lacking, but it can be hard to recognize these issues on your own. Therefore, it’s best to ask a co-worker for their honest opinion about how you come across at work. Let them know you’re actively trying to improve your social skills, so you truly need constructive feedback.

Listen to their critique because this is a prime opportunity to find out where you need to improve. For example, you might learn you don’t smile enough, making you come across as cold. Hearing unflattering comments about yourself isn’t fun, but instead of getting defensive, use this to make positive changes.

Mimic Co-Workers’ Interactions

Carefully observe how your colleagues behave around one another and use this to guide your own actions. For example, if people ask each other about their weekends before the Monday morning staff meeting starts, follow suit. Listen to what the other person is saying and send nonverbal cues — i.e., nodding your head, smiling, making eye contact — to show you’re engaged.

Set Goals for Improvement

As with any skill you’d like to expand, setting goals for boosting your social skills will help you stay on track. Make them SMART — specific, manageable, achievable, relevant, time-bound — to hold yourself accountable. For example, you might strive to stop by one co-worker’s desk per week to ask how their day is going. This will allow you to improve your small talk skills while getting to know your colleagues better.

Ready to find an exciting new job? PrideStaff Northern Kentucky is here to help you find the perfect fit in Boone, Kenton or Campbell counties. Contact us today to get started!

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