The way you interact with others around you tells a lot about your personality, confidence level, and the degree of self-esteem. Social skills alone cannot make you attractive. To become a person who is loved by others, you have to like yourself first. That can only be accomplished by doing the things you admire, being friends with positive people and achieving your goals consistently. This is when learning social skills like public speaking, meeting new people, being the leader, etc becomes simple and painless.
Here are the 7 ways to improve your social skills and become more likable
1) Stop finishing other people’s sentences
In a one-on-one setting, most people finish other people’s sentences as a way of acknowledging the person they are talking to. This may be appropriate if they are stuck in between or are struggling for a particular word. But generally, it is considered rude. It shows that you are not interested in what they have to say and just want to jump to the next topic.
2) Go out as much as possible
Your “Social Vibe” is one of the most important factors people notice when meeting someone for the first time in a bar or a social gathering. By vibe, I mean the general mood you are in that day. To improve your vibe, try listening to music, exercise or have some coffee before you go out. Plus, going out itself will improve your social vibe.
3) Give compliments
Giving out compliments to people you meet shows that you are genuinely interested in talking to them. You also come off as more extroverted and enthusiastic. I am not asking you to dish out compliments to whoever you see on the street, your workplace, or the gym. It has to be genuine and honest.
4) Listen attentively
The more you know about other people in your life, the better and more precise your communication will be with them. Whether you are in the company of people you already know or are meeting them for the first time, you don’t want them to feel alienated, ever. Hence, ask questions and encourage others to talk about themselves.
5) Don’t criticize others
No one likes to be judged. At least not too early in the interaction. To get better at social skills and become more likable, it is essential to have an open mind. When you judge and criticize others, you make them feel bad. It puts them in a bad mood and hence, any chances of you hanging out with them in the future, diminishes.
6) Look as good as possible
When it comes to looks, most people fixate on it as if it is the deciding factor. People don’t care about the shape of your face, hairstyle or body type. However, they do notice your clothing, personal hygiene and how you smell. By wearing appropriately good clothes, bathing daily, and putting on some perfume, you can make yourself look more presentable.
Summary
I hope this quick social skills guide helped you become more cognizant of your own social habits. To learn more about this subject, I would recommend you to read the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.