By: John Muller, MD candidate
The fifth and final skill of emotional intelligence (EQ) that Goleman suggests is that of social skill. It is the culmination of the other skills of EQ.
This is not as simple as just being friendly. Social skill, as defined by Goleman, is friendliness with a purpose. It is moving people in the direction you desire.
The socially skilled person is proficient in managing relationships and building networks. They tend to have a wide circle of acquaintances and a network in place for when the time for action comes.
In our daily life, we constantly interact with people from various fields. Even if someone has “nothing to offer” to you or your work in the present moment, building strong bonds allows you to call on these connections in the future.
Nothing important gets done alone
The socially skilled person is also savvy in finding common ground and building rapport with people of all kinds. They are great at managing teams and that is their empathy at work.
Much of what we do today is based on teamwork. An effective leader is able to bring a diverse group together to become a strong team following a common goal.
Additionally, the socially skilled person is an expert persuader. This is a demonstration of their self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy. Thus, an expert persuader knows when to appeal to one’s emotions but understands when appealing to reason may work better.
No leader is an island
It is the leader’s task to get work done. The ability to command teams of people is made possible through social skill. In fact, their self-motivation makes them excellent collaborators as their passion for work influences others. Notice how all of these EQ skills are coming together?
Social skill can be further broken down into eight competencies, which will be further elaborated on in a future article.
Studies have found that among workers high in social skill, conscientiousness was positively related to job performance.
Another study found that the more satisfied a worker is, the higher a leader’s social skills are likely to be. Clearly, social skill is crucial for success as a leader. The five skills of EQ (self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, empathy, and social skill) are ingredients that leaders need to have. Luckily, EQ can be learned over time and with commitment to practice.