How to Improve Social Awareness

Social awareness is a soft skill that helps people understand the perspectives of others and interact accordingly. Social awareness combines several competencies, including emotional intelligence and communication skills. When conversing with new friends or peers, for instance, practice active listening and pay attention to other people's emotions to pick up on social cues and keep the conversation flowing easily.

Social awareness allows people to practice self-regulation and attune their actions based on how others behave in social situations. Expectations of social awareness can differ in various contexts and cultures. For example, in Japan, removing one’s shoes before entering a home is a sign of respect, though not all social norms are as clear-cut.

Social awareness matters because it makes you a more appealing friend, romantic partner, and job candidate. People want to associate with those they find easy to get along with, so those who do not practice social awareness may find it more challenging to befriend others.

Social awareness also supports decision-making: listening to others’ ideas more easily informs how you should respond. Other competencies come from social awareness, such as respect, kindness, and generosity. All these make you a more friendly, likable, and whole person.

There are three main facets of social awareness: active listening, nonverbal cues, and informed responses.

1. 1. Active listening: Active listeners do not speak over others; instead, they hear their point of view and remain respectful in conversation.
2. 2. Nonverbal cues: However, not all forms of communication are verbal, which is why nonverbal cues are also essential to social awareness. Attention to body language and facial expressions also informs one’s social understanding.
3. 3. Informed responses: Finally, people can make informed responses through active listening and reading nonverbal cues. This means contributing to social interactions in a productive, open-hearted way that responds to the conversation’s tone—be it jaunty, professional, or somber.

Social awareness skills can manifest in a few ways. See a few examples below:

1. 1. Empathy: People with strong social awareness show empathy to others when situations call for it. Understanding others’ emotions is a broader and necessary part of emotional learning and social awareness.
2. 2. Interpersonal skills: Being able to engage with others comfortably, regardless of different backgrounds, is an important skill and shows you are an easy-going personality that can move freely among various social settings.
3. 3. Problem-solving: Differences in opinions and conflicts may arise in family settings, friend groups, or workplaces. Practice social awareness by respecting the perspectives of others and responding to them with kindness and openness.
4. 4. Self-management: Social awareness means practicing control, which may mean speaking less than you usually would to give others a chance to share or sitting on emotions to maintain harmony in a group setting.

Social-emotional learning is crucial to learn at a young age. Practice the following methods to continue to boost your level of social awareness:

• Prioritize your mental health and emotional well-being. Practicing self-care can help you be more compassionate toward others. Understanding your own emotions can help you recognize others’ feelings. Keep a journal, practice meditation, and do other activities to recharge and regulate your emotions.
• Surround yourself with people of diverse backgrounds. Openness to experiences can support social awareness. Learning new customs and cultures can open your mind to new ways of thinking and behaving around others.
• Thank others for their efforts. Expressing gratitude can go a long way. Thanking others for their work or acts of service is a way to demonstrate cultural humility and understanding of others’ efforts.
• Think before you speak. Let others share their thoughts before you step in, and never talk over people. Think through your idea before sharing it with others.

Developing relational intelligence and improving communication are essential to boost the quality of your personal and professional relationships. Discover Esther Perel’s approach to resolving conflict, having difficult conversations, and building trust when you sign up for a MasterClass Annual Membership.