Everyone, regardless of age, gender, career stage, or traits of being extroverted or introverted, has the ability to cultivate their interpersonal skills and use them to advance their careers. Transforming the way we think, not excessively focusing on avoiding negative impacts but trusting in our social abilities, striving to expand and maintain professional networks, and focusing on potential future development are key to improving social skills.
Many people think that extroverted personalities are better suited for establishing social connections because they seem to be able to communicate with different people more naturally. However, this view is not entirely accurate. In fact, no matter whether your personality is extroverted or introverted, communication and networking skills can be learned. Even those who are naturally shy and not good at interacting with others can learn to establish good relationships with others.
Based on research with 450 professionals from various industries, we have identified a series of factors that are beneficial to the improvement of interpersonal skills, which have an important impact on accelerating career growth. The research found that across different ages, genders, career stages, and personality types, everyone can learn and optimize their communicative abilities.
The following are five key elements identified in the research that can help individuals enhance their social skills:
1. Cognitive Flexibility
Our research results show that cognitive flexibility—the ability to quickly adapt to changing environments and adjust thinking patterns—increased social possibilities by 19%. The stronger the cognitive flexibility, the more willing individuals are to seek new information, accept different viewpoints, and more easily establish and maintain interpersonal connections. Ways to enhance cognitive flexibility include changing daily habits, such as trying different commuting routes, changing the work environment, playing video games that require quick reactions and multitasking, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and practicing meditation.
2. Approach Orientation
People often exhibit two psychological states when facing competition: approach orientation (pursuing positive outcomes) and avoidance orientation (avoiding errors and negative consequences). Studies show that those who focus on approach orientation and pursuing success communicate more effectively, with a success rate 17% higher than others. For those who are more avoidance-oriented, changing their mindset is crucial. They need to actively participate in social activities, set social goals, and remind themselves to focus on the progress they’ve made. Most importantly, they shouldn’t view social rejections as a reflection of their self-worth but should understand that a mismatch of needs could be one reason for unsuccessful social efforts.
Successfully establishing interpersonal connections has a positive impact on our motivation, propelling us to persevere further. Recognizing our abilities in interpersonal interactions, or “social self-efficacy” as perceived by oneself, is extremely significant to us, beyond actual skills and talents. This sense of confidence stems from our conviction in social success, deeply affecting our behavior and attitudes. In other words, if you believe you possess social skills, then you will perform better in social activities.
Enhancing self-efficacy can significantly increase people’s enthusiasm for participating in social activities (according to our research, it can increase by 25%). To strengthen your sense of self-efficacy, you should be aware of your emotions before engaging in social activities, and try to reduce stress and anxiety. Replace negative thoughts with positive self-talk, such as telling yourself “I can do this”, “It’s normal to feel nervous”, “I have prepared well for this”.
You can look up to people who have similar personality traits and have been successful in forming social connections as your role models. Ask those who are good at socializing for encouraging feedback, such as “How did I do?” or “What did I do well?” This can boost your confidence.
Perseverance is also a key factor in successfully building relationships, just like in many other aspects of life (according to research, this can improve the likelihood of socializing by 51.5%). By persistently engaging in social activities, the chances of success will greatly increase. Remember to continuously schedule social time, even if it’s just an hour or two each week, it is important and necessary.
The form of socializing can be decided based on personal preference, whether it is face-to-face meetings, telephone conversations, emails, or other means, the key is to maintain consistency and persistence. Even if you sometimes encounter rejection or frustration, keep going. Such long-term perseverance will make you more skilled in interpersonal communications, accumulating enough social resources to be successful.
Focusing on the future can have a significant impact on how individuals allocate their time, which in turn affects their decisions and behaviors in social interactions. Research has found that focusing on the future, in other words, concentrating on imminent events, this future-oriented thinking can increase social inclinations by 12%.
To adjust your time orientation towards the future, you should invest more time in planning and thinking about the future. The clearer you see the future, the more you will be able to set specific short-term and long-term goals and move towards the desired outcomes. Predict potential challenges and seize opportunities.
At the same time, establish the awareness that your social network will help you achieve your goals. Research the activities you plan to participate in, understand the organizations that host these events, and who might attend. Practicing repeatedly how to initiate conversation, or engage in brief exchanges in an elevator, will better prepare you for future social occasions and reduce anxiety about interpersonal communication.
Learn to adjust your mindset, avoid indulging in negative avoidance thinking, and believe in your ability to build relationships. Maintain focus on developing a professional network and focusing on the future, gradually enhancing your willingness and ability to socialize. These strategies are not only applicable to introverts but also to extroverts. Everyone has the ability to achieve successful social interactions.
In today’s workplace environment, is cultivating interpersonal relationships truly important? Can the right reading method help you scan through ten lines of text at a glance? To understand the answers to these questions, you need to master some key skills and strategies.
For professionals aiming to enhance their competitiveness in the workplace and personal efficiency, delving deeply into these topics is crucial. Effective reading skills not only save precious time but also allow for the rapid absorption and application of new knowledge and information, maintaining a lead in the fast-paced business environment.
Furthermore, establishing and maintaining workplace relationships is equally vital for career growth and opportunity expansion. Understanding how to develop acquaintanceships at work can help individuals build a support network within the organization, foster career advancement, and even open new professional paths.
Whether you are pursuing career advancement or simply seeking to be more efficient at work, mastering these core skills is key to achieving these goals.
