Working in an office can be a minefield. Relationships, history, clothing. Everything can be interpreted differently. Here’s 15 workplace social skills to help you navigate the workplace successfully.
Workplace social skills – A guide
- Pay attention to how people’s feet are positioned. When you come across a group talking, look at their feet as you approach. If they only turn their torso and not their feet, it’s not a conversation you are invited to.
- As an aside to the advice above. If you are chatting to someone and their feet are pointing away from you, they want to leave the conversation.
- If you ask a question and only get a short answer, stay quiet. This will prompt the person to expand on their answer.
- Make people feel good with small compliments. It will foster respect, friendship and loyalty.
- Keep a list of birthdays, spouses, kids etc for your co-workers and set reminders for their important days.
- Notice people’s eye color when you first meet them. The couple of seconds longer eye contact works wonders. Remember to repeat their name when they say it. It will help you to remember it.
- Do a simple favor for a colleague before asking for a favor yourself. It will help them to say yes more easily.
- Smile whenever you see someone. It will be infectious and they will associate you with happy thoughts.
- Be confident by assuming everyone is a room already likes you.
- Always be polite and professional to people, no matter what.
- When speaking to someone, make sure you actively listen. Eye contact, nodding and questions all show you are involved and interested.
- In a group watch their behaviour when a joke is told. People instinctively look at the person they feel closest too when laughing.
- Act like you know what you are doing. We can all suffer from imposter syndrome, so it’s important to fake it till you make it.
- If you expect someone to attack you or you’re work during a meeting, sit next to them. They lose the pack mentality and won’t feel as confident when attacking.
- Don’t say ‘I think’ or ‘I believe’. It sounds non-committal and less confident of your position.
There you have it. 15 workplace social skills tips to help you on your career journey. Use them wisely.