Social skills are a must for dealing with personal and professional relationships, but not everyone picks them up naturally.
If you find yourself doing these things, it might be time to brush up on your people skills. Don’t feel too bad — we all get a bit rusty at times.
1. You interrupt people constantly.
If you’re always jumping in before someone’s finished speaking, you’re not only being rude, but you’re also missing out on valuable information. Good conversation is about give and take, not just waiting for your turn to talk.
2. You avoid eye contact.
While cultural norms vary, in many societies, avoiding eye contact can make you seem untrustworthy or lacking confidence. If you’re always looking at the floor or over people’s shoulders, you might be missing important social cues.
3. You dominate every conversation.
Talking non-stop about yourself or your interests can be exhausting for those around you. If you find that you’re always the one doing the talking, it’s time to practice your listening skills.
4. You’re glued to your phone in social situations.
Constantly checking your phone when you’re with people sends the message that you’d rather be somewhere else. It’s not only rude, but it also prevents you from fully engaging in the social interaction.
5. You overshare personal information.
While openness can encourage connection, dumping your life story or deeply personal details on someone you’ve just met can be overwhelming. Learning to gauge the appropriate level of sharing takes practice.
6. You give unsolicited advice.
Not everyone wants your opinion or solution, especially if they haven’t asked for it. Sometimes people just want to vent or share an experience without being told what to do.
7. You use sarcasm excessively.
While a bit of sarcasm can be funny, overusing it can make you seem negative or insecure. It can also be hurtful if people can’t tell when you’re being serious or not.
8. You struggle to read body language.
If you often miss when people are uncomfortable, bored, or ready to end a conversation, you might need to work on reading non-verbal cues. Body language is a huge part of communication.
9. You’re always late.
Consistently showing up late shows a lack of respect for people’s time. It can damage relationships and make you seem unreliable.
10. You gossip excessively.
While a little gossip is normal, if you’re always talking about people behind their backs, you’ll quickly gain a reputation as untrustworthy. People will wonder what you’re saying about them when they’re not around.
11. You one-up people in conversations.
If someone shares an experience, and you immediately try to top it, you’re not engaging in conversation – you’re competing. This habit can make people reluctant to share with you.
12. You avoid small talk.
While deep conversations are great, small talk serves an important social function. It helps establish rapport and can lead to more meaningful exchanges. If you always try to skip it, you might be missing out on connections.
13. You don’t respect personal space.
Standing too close to people or touching them without permission can make them uncomfortable. Being aware of and respecting personal boundaries is a key social skill.
14. You struggle to admit when you’re wrong.
Source: Unsplash If you can’t acknowledge your mistakes or always have to be right, you’ll find it hard to maintain relationships. Being able to admit when you’re wrong shows maturity and humility.
15. You don’t pick up on or use humour appropriately.
Source: Unsplash Humour is a powerful social tool, but it requires good timing and an understanding of your audience. If your jokes often fall flat or offend people, you might need to work on this aspect of your social skills.
