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Previously we noted how good social skills are increasingly being sought after in the workplace.
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In this post we review many social skills.
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We refer to a book that can assist us in helping our youth gain social skills.
In a previous post we noted that social skills are increasingly important in the world.
This is particularly true in the job market.
We have the opportunity to assist youth to improve their social skills in our group sessions.
In this post we review social skills in more depth and how we can assist in improving their social skills.
First let’s review what we mean by social skills in more detail.
This is a complex and broad skill set.
Social skills are behaviors that promote positive interaction with others and the environment.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING EFFECTIVE SOCIAL SKILLS:
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You experience the rewards of positive relationships.
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You perform better in school.
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You improve your self-image.
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You prepare for the future job market.
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You are much more resilient to life’s challenges.
THE MANY ASPECTS OF SOCIAL SKILLS:
The following list may look overwhelming.
However, we can take baby steps and tackle one aspect at a time.
COMMUNICATING:
Effective communication is the foundation of social success.
These skills will assist in relating and forming friendships with others.
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Discovering what is special about yourself and your special interests and values;
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Introducing yourself and remembering names;
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Getting to know each other;
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Finding out what you have in common with others, and;
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Giving and accepting compliments.
NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
In communicating, nonverbal skills are more important than verbal skills.
People pay attention not only to the words said, but also to the way they are said.
Examples are:
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Facial expressions, gestures and eye contact;
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Tone and volume of voice;
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Personal space and use of touch;
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Interpreting body language and posture. and;
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Identifying emotions.
BEING PART OF A GROUP:
Joining and gaining acceptance in a group is an important skill to develop.
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Joining a group and meeting new people;
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Sharing, cooperating and asking questions;
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Following rules, making decisions together and being a good sport;
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Fostering group identity and accepting differences, and;
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Role models, true friends and understanding cliques.
EXPRESSING YOUR FEELINGS:
When children learn to express and control their feelings this helps them throughout life.
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Identifying and talking about our feelings;
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Empathy;
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Mixed emotions, self-talk and self-control;
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Dealing with anger, and;
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Handling change.
CARING ABOUT YOURSELF AND OTHERS:
The desire to care about others, even to the point of self-sacrifice, is part of our genetic coding.
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Understanding the behaviour of others and the impact of our behaviour on others;
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Showing interest in and caring about others;
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Respecting others and being kind;
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Giving advice and responding to positive advice;
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Offering help to others and being a friend, and;
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Depending on others and seeking help from adults.
PROBLEM SOLVING:
Too often, we do not give children credit for their capability to solve problems.
We often jump in to help them before they need help.
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Identifying problem-causing behaviors;
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Refocusing our attitude;
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Brainstorming and finding alternatives and the best solutions;
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Thinking before acting and making wise choices;
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Accepting consequences and learning from mistakes, and;
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Group problem solving.
LISTENING: A TWO WAY STREET:
Listening skills are much more complex than most people realize.
These skills are essential for effective social communication
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Hearing versus listening;
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Listening during a conversation;
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Listening for information;
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Following instructions, and;
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Positive feedback.
STANDING UP FOR YOURSELF:
The ability to be assertive in positive and respectful ways is a significant skill for a child to develop.
At every stage of life, we face situations requiring us to be assertive.
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Creating a positive attitude and feeling good about ourselves;
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Being assertive and sticking up for ourselves;
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Group pressure and learning to say no;
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Releasing anger safely;
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Dealing with teasing, bullying and avoiding fights, and;
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Rights and responsibilities.
MANAGING CONFLICT:
Resolving conflicts can be an important part of social success.
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Knowing when to resolve conflicts;
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Compromising, apologizing and calmly resolving conflicts;
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Negotiating and Win-Win solutions;
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Peer mediation and fair fighting, and;
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Positive and negative outcomes.
HOW TO ASSIST WITH SOCIAL SKILLS:
There is a free book “101 Ways to Teach Children Social Skills” by Lawrence E. Shapiro.
We can use this book as it offers many approaches that cover the above social skills.
This 167 page book can be accessed at: http://www.socialskillscentral.com/free/101_Ways_Teach_Children_Social_Skills.pdf
When reviewing this book you will find many activities can fit into the roles we use in group sessions.
By systematically working through this book we can assist youth in improving their social skills.
Please share your ideas on how we can work with our youth and assist them in improving their social skills. This will enable them to gain the communication and leadership skills required in the 21st Century.
If you require more information, please contact us.
LEARN MORE:
Are you are interested in learning more about group coaching?
If so, contact us to obtain a report on a simple and easy system on how to set up group coaching programs for youth. You can do this in the ‘Contact us‘ section of the website.
Please contact us to enter the discussion, REQUEST A FREE COPY OF THE GROUP COACHING PLAYBOOK or JOIN THE REGULAR COACHES FORUM.
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Wishing you lots of love and laughter, as always.
Fred Jones
Victoria, BC Canada
Fred Jones