Adrian Volenik
People with high social intelligence have the power to build strong relationships.
They’re not just good at communication, oh no, they actually read the room and understand what’s happening, no matter if it’s a family gathering or a professional environment.
Do you ever wonder how socially intelligent you are? Well, you’re in luck.
I’ve compiled a list of 10 telltale signs of people with high social intelligence.
1) They’re social chameleons
Socially intelligent people adjust their behavior to suit the situation. They ensure they blend in wherever they are and make others feel more comfortable and understood.
Whether it’s a formal event or a casual hangout, they adjust their behavior, tone, and body language to fit right in.
In fact, reading between the lines is their artistry.
They’re like high-charged event planners, at one corner dealing with stressed clients and on the other talking business.
If you’ve ever spent time around one, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
They can navigate a diplomatic dinner and a rowdy sports event with equal ease.
2) They’re empathy hero
Empathetic heroes may not wear capes, but they have the unique ability to show compassion and put themselves in other people’s shoes.
They understand people’s emotions and experiences better.
During your school days, you probably remember at least one person who was new to the school and, at the beginning, often sat alone during lunchtime.
Heck, maybe you were that kid.
Everyone’s a bit shy at the beginning, especially in this new and challenging situation. Making friends is a big deal as a good friendship can last a lifetime.
But soon, you’d see that kid not sitting alone anymore, as an empathy hero would join the newbie and strike up a conversation with them.
They’d want them to feel included, listen to what they have to say, and later introduce them to their friends.
This type of empathetic nature can boost someone’s confidence and inspire others to be more inclusive, too.
This brings me to my next point: active listening.
3) They’re great listeners
Have you ever talked with someone and thought about how good listeners they are? It’s great to feel truly heard.
It’s like they listened to your feelings and didn’t just hear the words. They felt your words. They showed you respect and picked up all the hidden clues in them.
Active listeners give their full attention to the speaker, not interrupting or waiting for their turn to speak. They’re focused on you and what you have to say.
It’s a skill that demands dropping your agenda to fully engage with the other person’s reality, and it’s one of the signs of high social intelligence.
We should all aim to become good listeners and practice it more in real life.
4) They have a positive attitude
The only thing I remember from my first job is my supervisor and his ability to see positive things in everything.
No matter the challenges we faced, he always managed to find a silver lining. He would organize quick team meetings in the conference room and tried to lift everyone’s spirits.
Something like Michael Scott from The Office. But good at managing people.
He often shared stories from previous projects with similar issues and how they were able to achieve success in the end.
His voice had such a calm and positive tone that your anxiety would run out of that conference room after 5 minutes of hearing him talk.
I realized that a positive attitude is truly contagious and that others become more positive, too, focusing more on solutions and growth than the issues themselves.
Optimism can lift everyone’s spirits and boost productivity and motivation.
In the end, seeing the brighter side of things makes the whole environment more pleasant.
5) They have a funny bone
People with high social intelligence have a great sense of humor, and they know it.
They use it to “break the ice,” relieve tension, and create a more comfortable and inclusive environment.
They make conversations more memorable, and it feels like they hold funny stories up their sleeve for every occasion.
Research clearly shows the connection between humor and intelligence. Humor boosts the perception of confidence, gets people to listen, and makes talking and engaging with people a lot easier.
I don’t know about you, but my experience working around funny people is that I was more productive and didn’t burn out as much.
It made me more enthusiastic and generally made my day. People with a funny bone have a secret weapon against stress and monotony.
6) They’re open-minded
Being open-minded is the learning path. It’s harder than being closed-minded because you have to be humble enough to admit when you’re wrong, among other things.
Open-minded people accept different opinions and perspectives, which creates a more inclusive environment.
Being open-minded means you can revise your opinions when new information comes in, which is how humans learn so much about our complex world.
Everyone needs to admit they don’t know everything and be more open-minded to better solutions, even if it doesn’t agree with their views at times.
Today’s world is a big multicultural hodgepodge where you meet people from different backgrounds at work, on the road, and at the gym.
Having an open mind can help you acknowledge their differences.
This brings me to my next point: cultural sensitivity.
7) They’re culturally sensitive
I believe that the best path to cultural sensitivity is through your stomach. You’ll understand why if you were ever part of big multicultural festivities.
You always have the opportunity to try delicious dishes from various cultures and have time to learn about ingredients, preparation methods, and, most importantly, the cultural significance of each cuisine or even dish.
What better way to learn more about someone’s culture?
Being culturally sensitive ultimately means respecting and understanding the norms, values, and customs of different cultures.
By being culturally sensitive, you’re basically creating a foundation for better communication.
You engage with people and learn about their traditions, and in the end, better understand their culture.
That’s why, if you ever get an invite from someone coming from a different country and different cultural background, absolutely say yes.
8) “Miming” is their second language
Imagine being one of those international volunteers building a school in a remote village. Do you think they all know the local language or even local construction worker slang?
I bet you not. But you know where they excel besides being courageous and kind? Yes, miming.
They have the ability to convey ideas solely through gestures and expressions.
It can be a way to communicate tasks, safety protocols, and project instructions. Their mastery of “mime” shows their adaptability, empathy, and determination to bridge cultural and language gaps.
They can also easily pick up other people’s nonverbal cues.
It’s the socially intelligent people who are the ones who notice the quiet person in the corner.
They can easily pick up on the level of interest people have in certain topics, allowing them to adjust what someone wants to share accordingly.
9) They’re masters of mingling and networking
People with high social intelligence thrive in social gatherings. It’s like all social gatherings are their playground, and they’re the ultimate players.
They glide from group to group and conversation to conversation.
But they also understand they need the help of others, and that’s why networking is very important, as it creates connections with people with different backgrounds and views in life.
Networking opportunities don’t have to be related to social gatherings only.
There are plenty of people to meet in LinkedIn groups and even at the gym. You just have to reach out, start the conversation, and get yourself out there.
10) They solve “drama”
Conflict is an integral part of our human nature. It ranges from a minor disagreement to a bigger conflict and ultimately to all-out wars.
People with high social intelligence navigate these conflict waters with skill and confidence.
They often turn difficult situations into fun and laughable moments.
They don’t escalate conflicts but see them as opportunities to grow and understand the background of people’s stories.
This type of conflict-solving skill requires emotional intelligence, a lot of patience, plus a willingness to set the ego aside. For sure, we all know how difficult that can be.
And this is why it’s a sign of high social intelligence.
Final thoughts
People with high social intelligence have the skills to build relationships and create positive feelings in people.
If you recognize yourself in these 10 signs, that’s great.
If not, then I’m glad you’re reading this. Some people naturally have better social and communication skills than others, but the good thing is we can learn these skills.
Whether you’re 20 or 50 years old, you can improve your social intelligence with lifelong learning and practice.
