Social anxiety is very real and it takes work to come to a place of confidence. Learning how to communicate with other people and understand them can take a lifetime but here’s where to start.
Educate Yourself
Before you start trying to understand people, it can help to start learning about emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is vital when it comes to empathizing with people and lives that are different to your own. Simply put, it’s the art of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
When you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand how they must be feeling, interactions will become easier. It will become more natural for you to respond to people appropriately, without saying anything that could cause offense.
Effective Communication Skills
There are many ways you can pick up effective communication skills. From writing emails at work to playing minesweeper online at home, all communication is good communication when you’re learning. However communication isn’t simply about the words that you say.
There are many forms of communication, including body language. To communicate effectively with someone you’re face-to-face with, use your body language to show that you’re listening and interested in what the other person has to say. It could be as simple as turning your body towards the person who is talking to you.
Study Yourself
Learning about how to socialize with others is one thing but learning about yourself in social situations is empowering. Learn to recognize your triggers so you understand what can upset you in social situations. Note your thoughts and emotions to understand what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not comfortable with.
This will help you to draw some boundaries for yourself that will give you more control over your mental health. When you understand yourself, it will be easier to manage your behaviors and emotions around others.
Ask & Listen
Many people make the mistake of thinking that friends want advice when they share information. For the most part, this is entirely false. People want to be listened to and understood.
You can improve your social skills by learning to ask more open-ended questions and paying attention to what the other person is saying. You don’t have to offer solutions; just be supportive and understanding.
Don’t Fake It
If you’ve ever heard the advice, fake it until you make it, forget it. This is a form of masking and before you know it, your friends will know a completely false version of you. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and make mistakes. Good friends will help you through social faux pas because they understand who the real you is.
