Can a lack of social intelligence be a hindrance in business?
Yes, definitely. People who haven’t developed their social intelligence skills cannot connect effectively with others and may even alienate or offend them. That can be true both of employees and leaders alike. Everyone knows of examples of two people who have similar abilities and intelligence, but who are not similar in their achievement or success levels in business. In many cases, it is the person who has the superior social intelligence who gets ahead.
Can people learn to become more proficient in social intelligence?
It’s important to know that all humans have a hard-wired capacity for social intelligence. While there is wide variability among people in terms of their ability to be socially intelligent, each of us possesses the potential to be more skillful at human relationships at work. Social intelligence, when applied to leadership, recognizes that the most important activity of a leader is to connect with others in order to amplify the latter’s performance.
People who learn to enhance their own social intelligence abilities are more successful in developing the creativity and productivity of those who report to them and, in turn, are more acknowledged for their leadership capabilities. Elements of social intelligence serve to reduce stress by moderating conflict, promoting understanding and relationships and fostering stability and cooperation.
What are some specific things that can be learned?
You can learn some specific skills; even those capacities that are automatic and hard-wired can be improved upon through training. This would include, for example, knowing what one is expected to do in any social situation. Similarly, one can learn to be better at reading non-verbal cues with practice and attention.
What does socially intelligent leadership look like?
You would have leaders who do not inhibit or impede others and who actively enhance the performance of others. They wish to genuinely know the people who work for them or work with them and seek to develop in them the desire to cooperate. Many of their efforts are geared toward creating a positive mood and, in turn, their employees contribute creatively and are more motivated. To these kinds of leaders, the way in which something is communicated is as important as the content of what’s communicated. <<
Annette Kolski-Andreaco, LSW/MSW, MURP, is an account executive for LifeSolutions, which is part of the UPMC Insurance Services Division. Reach her at [email protected] or (412) 647-8728.
