PRACTICE SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotions and social relationships are at the core of all human behaviour. Our capacity to understand and manage our emotions in positive ways forms a primary part of our ability to relieve stress and communicate effectively. It also helps us to defuse conflict, overcome challenges and enhance our ability to empathise with others. The ability to form relationships with empathy and assertiveness and to communicate effectively within these relationships lies at the centre of what is called social intelligence (SI), which refers to the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and have the capability to understand not only yourself in social contexts but also others.

You can prevent many misunderstandings by improving your ability to communicate clearly and by paying close attention to the needs of others. Take your time to consider your actions before acting or speaking. By giving our actions or words some thought before doing or speaking helps us avoid acting rashly and potentially regretting it later. It is beneficial to learn to adapt and to be receptive to new concepts and experiences, particularly when you relocate to a new social setting such as a new school or city. Make an effort to understand the rules and societal expectations of your new environment and ask if you are uncertain about anything.

Dr Ora Marx