Do You Use Social Radar?

Copyright (c) 2009 Maurine Patten

There are three areas in Emotional Intelligence that could be called Social Radar because they make you more socially aware. Social Awareness is often needed to survive in your professional and personal life. To sharpen your professional and personal effectiveness, there are three areas to focus on when you are trying to be more socially aware:

1. Empathy.

2. Organizational awareness.

3. Service.

Empathy is a critical skill because it creates understanding which is necessary to get along with others, especially those from different backgrounds and cultures. Without empathy it is difficult to make intelligent decisions.

When there is empathy, there is a blending of emotional states between two people which can create a feeling of connection referred to as "resonance" or harmony. During this time, feelings and ideas are thoughtfully considered and expressed appropriately.

Empathy includes good listening skills which tune into both the verbal and non-verbal messages. This means you need to understand what people are thinking and feeling. Also, it includes being able to understand why they think or feel that way.

Individuals with a high level of empathy:

- Are attentive and listen well.

- Are sensitive and understand others' perspectives.

- Help out based on understanding people's needs and feelings.

Organizational awareness involves "reading" the unspoken rules and guiding values that operate in groups, organizations, and work. Sometimes this kind of awareness is referred to as being politically astute. It means you know who the people are that can be trusted, respected, and have answers to your questions.

It is important to understand the dynamics in social networks and key relationships. This is something that is learned over time by noticing what goes on around you and by asking questions. Individuals with a high level of organizational awareness:

- Are aware of the political and social atmosphere in an organization.

- Sense others' developmental needs and help them reach their potential.

Service means being willing to carefully monitor the level of satisfaction of customers and/or clients. You need to be able to determine whether or not customers are getting what they need. If they are not, they are likely to look elsewhere to get their needs met.

Service means you need to be thinking ahead for other innovative ways you can meet customers' needs. In addition, you may need to come up with ideas that will improve a situation when customers are unhappy.

Individuals with a high level of service:

- Are willing to be available when necessary to improve customer/client satisfaction.

- Anticipate, recognize and meet customers' needs.

- Act as a trusted advisor for customers.

- Seek ways to increase customers' loyalty.

Increasing your Social Radar in these three areas means developing a deep understanding of another's needs and goals which will also increase trust and loyalty.

To have strong Social Awareness ability, you need to:

- Be a good listener in order to understand the feelings and perspectives of others.

- Be tolerant and cultivate opportunities with diverse people.

- Read the political and social currents in an environment.

- Happily offer appropriate assistance to others.

Using these suggestions will help you discover ways to improve your Social Radar and your professional and personal effectiveness.