12 Ideas To Develop Social Skills And Abilities

 

1. Don’t play all your cards, even when your opponent appears to be winning. Only play your cards when you’re sure your opponent doesn’t have anything up their sleeve.
2. Learn to read body language. Most of the time, people say one thing, but they’re usually thinking about something different. You can’t know what’s in people’s minds by observing their faces. However, you can interpret people’s minds by reading their body language and their eyes.
3. When someone asks you a question, don’t be in a hurry to answer or be too generous with your answer. Don’t play hero by volunteering information you were not asked.
4. Develop a habit of remembering people’s first names— including the clerk, the janitor, security guy, caretaker or the policeman. A person’s name is very close to a person, and the sweetest language everyone wants to hear more than any other language. Next time you meet, call them by their first names, and soon enough you will have a following and a group of friends who can do anything you ask.
5. Learn to communicate effectively and politely. Thoroughly develop your communication skills. Everything in life revolves around it, and it will take you far. You will soon realize that people are more interested in the person who knows how to communicate than the person who has a university degree.
6. If you are invited for a white-collar job interview in a company where everybody wears jeans and overalls, including the boss, don’t be foolish and wear a suit and a tie—wear a pair of jeans or overalls, and remember, in that company, the boss doesn’t like people wearing suits and ties—they think people who wear suits and ties are not ready for work.
7. People will always expect you to reciprocate their generosity or favors. Don’t be too foolish and deny them what they think is their right. Do the wise thing—return the favor, and they’ll think you’re normal. Take care, though, that you don’t give them your leg or your arm.
8. Tell people what they expect to hear. Don’t be too radical, and don’t go against the grain—even if people look dumb. You can make more friends in three months by conforming to people’s expectations than by trying to get people to like you in three years.
9. When talking, don’t try to compete with people. There’s nothing to be gained by outdoing others in talking or outsmarting others. In fact, the less you speak, the less people know about you, and the more they respect you.
10. The Japanese have a saying: “A clever eagle hides its claws”. When feeling strong, don’t show it to people. When you’re weak don’t even say anything. There’s much strength in silence, and there’s much power in staying humble.
11. A simple greeting costs nothing, yet it can build massive bridges between you and your perceived enemies and friends alike. IT can win you favors, get you into places you’re not allowed to get into, and get you out many undesired situations.
12. When you help other people or participate in charity, don’t blow the trumpet. Let others do it for you, for there’s nothing to be gained by praising yourself and everything to lose by bringing shame and dishonor upon yourself.