How Social Competency Can Help Your Business

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

01 Feb 2007 12:28 PM

I think of "social competency" as just a fancy way of talking about basic social skills. I'm of the belief that social skills are something that can be learned, practiced and mastered just like driving or tying our shoes-and not that it's some mysterious secret talent that only some people are able to access. I also believe that social competency and growing a business go hand-in-hand. Here are some tips for assessing your social competency and elements to focus on to make improvements:

I think the first step in being socially competent is to be socially motivated. By this, I think we can foster and interest in social interactions and work on actually seeking out opportunities to mix and mingle. The term "networking" has been used to death and seems to imply that we are using every single social opportunity to "make connections." Maybe we are, but I prefer thinking about being socially motivated-wanting to get out, meet people, do social things and extend our sphere of influence.

Secondly, I think a person needs to be genuinely concerned about other people in order to have decent social skills. You may not always say and do the right things, but if your heart is in the right place and you work at have genuine care and concern for other people-that will come through when you meet and interact with folks. If this doesn't come naturally for you, or you feel so self-conscious about your perceived lack of social grace that you have difficulty showing concern, it can be practiced. Try listening to other people and focus on what's being said. This can help you take the focus off your own nervousness, and be present and concerned.

Finally, I'm a big fan of empathy and I think it is a key element in social competency. I also think it is an important skill to have in operating a business. Empathy is a genuine form of understanding that lets people know that you've been there, you've stood in their shoes and you can see things from their perspective. This is key in creating social connections and being able to communicate with your clients, customers and prospects. Again, I think that empathy can be practiced and developed and the more life experience we have, the more we are able to tap into shared experiences with our customer base.

Working on your social skills and how you interact with others can be a good way to not only grow your business, but to also continue your personal growth as well!

See Also: Trying to Make a Sale--Watch Your Body Language and Networking With Former Coworkers

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