Social Intelligence: Warrior Mind Podcast #256

Over four years and going strong! With over 200,000 downloads from over 9 countries and 5 continent’s….this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.
The purpose of this Warrior Mind Podcast is to help you understand the importance of social intelligence you are living in two worlds.
Social intelligence is the exclusively human capacity to use our very large brains to effectively navigate and negotiate complex social relationships and environments.
Social scientist Ross Honeywill believes social intelligence is an aggregated measure of self- and social-awareness, evolved social beliefs and attitudes, and a capacity and appetite to manage complex social change. Psychologist Nicholas Humphrey believes that it is social intelligence, rather than quantitative intelligence, that defines humans.
The original definition by Edward Thorndike in 1920 is “the ability to understand and manage men and women, boys and girls, to act wisely in human relations”. It is equivalent to interpersonal intelligence, one of the types of intelligence identified in Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, and closely related to theory of mind.
Enjoy this podcast on social intelligence:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (15.4MB)
Subscribe: RSS
From Psychology Today
“Intelligence, or IQ, is largely what you are born with. Genetics play a large part. Social intelligence (SI), on the other hand, is mostly learned. SI develops from experience with people and learning from success and failures in social settings. It is more commonly referred to as “tact,” “common sense,” or “street smarts.”
What are the key elements of social intelligence?
- Verbal Fluency and Conversational Skills. You can easily spot someone with lots of SI at a party or social gathering because he or she knows how to “work the room.” The highly socially intelligent person can carry on conversations with a wide variety of people, and is tactful and appropriate in what is said. Combined, these represent what are called “social expressiveness skills.”
- Knowledge of Social Roles, Rules, and Scripts. Socially intelligent individuals learn how to play various social roles. They are also well versed in the informal rules, or “norms,” that govern social interaction. In other words, they “know how to play the game” of social interaction. As a result, they come off as socially sophisticated and wise.
- Effective Listening Skills. Socially intelligent persons are great listeners. As a result, others come away from an interaction with an SI person feeling as if they had a good “connection” with him or her.
- Understanding What Makes Other People Tick. Great people watchers, individuals high in social intelligence attune themselves to what others are saying, and how they are behaving, in order to try to “read” what the other person is thinking or feeling. Understanding emotions is part of Emotional Intelligence, and Social Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence are correlated – people who are especially skilled are high on both.
- Role Playing and Social Self-Efficacy. The socially intelligent person knows how to play different social roles – allowing him or her to feel comfortable with all types of people. As a result, the SI individual feels socially self-confident and effective – what psychologists call “social self-efficacy.”
- Impression Management Skills. Persons with SI are concerned with the impression they are making on others. They engage in what I call the “Dangerous Art of Impression Management,” which is a delicate balance between managing and controlling the image you portray to others and being reasonably “authentic” and letting others see the true self. This is perhaps the most complex element of social intelligence.
How can you develop social intelligence?
It takes effort and hard work. Begin by paying more attention to the social world around you. Work on becoming a better speaker or conversationalist. Networking organizations, or speaking groups, such as Toastmasters, are good at helping develop basic communication skills. Work on becoming a more effective listener, through what is called “active listening” where you reflect back what you believe the speaker said in order to ensure clear understanding. Most importantly, study social situations and your own behavior. Learn from your social successes and failures. I’ll give some more specific SI exercises in a future post.”
My e-book, Develop the Mental Strength of a Warrior, will help you develop a growth mindset.
Become a peak performer and request your Introductory Consultation HERE.
Subscribe to the Warrior Mind Podcast HERE.
In addition to iTunes, the Warrior Mind Podcast can be found on these channels:
- Via Blubrry Distribution
- Roku TV Box
- Boxee TV Box
- GoogleTV
- Android
- LookeeTV
- Samsung SmartTV
- Stand Alone Services:
- Stitcher
- Tunein Radio
- Doubletwist
- Pocketcast