Top 14 soft skills for success in life

Knowing how to deal with people is basic to be happy and have opportunities.

Human beings are social beings and, therefore, we must acquire a series of social skills that allow us to live in harmony with those around us, we must acquire a series of social skills that allow us to live in harmony with those around us, since we need others to survive and to enjoy life.We need others to survive and to enjoy an emotionally healthy life.

Not possessing certain social skills determines how we behave when we are with other people and the way we act can sometimes be misinterpreted by others, which can result in a conflict that could have been avoided.

The 14 basic social skills

Social skills are a set of behaviors that we emit when interacting with other individuals. and that help us relate to others in an effective and mutually satisfying way. Fortunately, they can be acquired and developed with practice. However, some of them can be difficult to master, as you have to be patient and take time to develop them properly.

In today's article, we have prepared a list of the top 14 social skills to be successful in your relationships and in your life.Let's get started!

1. Active listening

There is a big difference between listening and hearing. Knowing how to listen is very important in communicating with other people and, although we do not always realize it, sometimes we spend more time paying attention to what we think and what we say instead of actively listening to the other person.

Active listening is not only paying attention to the words that come out of the other person's mouth, but also to the words that come out of the other person's mouth, but also to the words that come out of the other person's mouth. is to be fully aware of the emotions and nonverbal language and non-verbal language that the other person is trying to communicate.

Active listening is really important when it comes to communicating effectively with other people.

2. Assertiveness

Assertiveness is a very important social skill for many reasons. The assertive person expresses his opinion in an appropriate way and defends his point of view, always respecting the opinion of others.always respecting the opinion of others. Thus, assertiveness is key to communicate efficiently with other individuals, but also for our own emotional well-being.

• But what differentiates assertive people from those who are not? You can find this answer in our post: "Assertive people: 10 characteristics they have in common".

3. Emotional validation

Emotional validation is the understanding and expression of acceptance of the other person's emotional experience.It improves interpersonal relationships because the other person feels understood and acknowledged. When someone feels that he/she is being understood emotionally, his/her trust towards the other person increases and he/she is able to open up, i.e. verbalize what he/she thinks and feels. It is essential to create a good relationship with other individuals.

• Recommended article: "Emotional validation: 6 basic tips to improve it".

4. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to put yourself in the other person's shoes and know what he/she feels or even what he/she may be thinking..

It is therefore necessary to be able to have interpersonal relationships with other individuals and to know how to behave in front of others and adapt to their needs and moods in real time, without waiting for explicit statements.

Empathy, moreover, is key to adapting to social situations in which we are in front of an audience, where we do not look at the gestures of a specific person but look at the overall context.

5. Negotiation skills

When we share our daily lives with people it is necessary to have good negotiation skills. Whether with colleagues or with a partner, knowing how to negotiate is a necessary skill because it can avoid many conflicts and also avoid having to bear many problems for not knowing how to defend our interests or, on the contrary, for constantly bringing unnecessary conflicts to the surface.

Moreover, conflict can arise in any relationship, and learning how to manage it and negotiate is a healthy and essential way to make relationships work.

6. Respect

People are more willing to relate to us if we show respect for their beliefs, values and ideas. In addition to respecting their way of thinking, respect can be expressed by making eye contact that indicates sincerityThis can help people feel that they are being taken into consideration.

Disrespect is one of the attitudes that we hate the most and that, in some cases, is difficult to leave behind, leading to cases of resentment and lack of trust.

7. Credibility

Showing yourself as a credible person is necessary to gain trust with others and, in addition, to persuade a person to trust you. and, moreover, to persuade an audience. As with respect, credibility makes people come across as they are and be more receptive. Always be consistent in what you say and do.

8. Compassion

No one is perfect and, therefore, we can all make mistakes.. Sometimes we are too hard on others, even though they may not have done something in bad faith.

Being compassionate is key to dealing with other individuals, and acceptance and forgiveness help improve our well-being. It is also based on a very socially functional idea: that context can lead people to make mistakes, and that it is important to know how to give second chances if there are signs that they can learn from their mistakes.

9. Positive thinking

Living life in a negative way will influence how we see the world and, therefore, how we relate to others. Having a positive mindset and facing situations with optimism is one of the best ways to live life.. And it also attracts other people.

• Article to deepen in positive thinking: "25 positive phrases to live every day with optimism".

10. Emotional regulation

Emotional regulation is a key concept when we live with other individuals and is a necessary competence for life. This is one of the most important social skills when it comes to channeling and expressing our emotional side in an appropriate way and not letting it make us lose sight of medium and long term goals.. In this way, we do not focus only on the impulses of the moment, and we make emotions play in our favor.

Being aware of and regulating one's emotions is both necessary and helps us to better develop our ability to promote our own well-being and that of others.

11. Open-mindedness

A mind free of prejudices and stereotypes is a strength that helps you relate to different people. that helps you relate to different people and adapt better to the environment. Mental rigidity and intolerance are undoubtedly a limitation for interpersonal relationships.

12. Patience

Being patient is one of the great virtues we can possess, especially when it comes to the social environment. If we do not master this skill, anything can annoy us and become a big problem. Patience helps to be relaxed and to avoid being more tense than necessary.. Before bursting into a fit of anger, it is better to take a few seconds to think things over. A good way to improve this skill is through Mindfulness.

13. Courtesy

When we are courteous and polite to other people they will rarely be ungrateful to us .. Behave respectfully and politely with others and you will see how much better things go for you. Being gentle and kind is always a plus.

14. Knowing how to express yourself

Knowing how to express yourself is key when interacting with others.. Regarding verbal language, it is necessary to be clear and to convey the message we want to convey to others. This seems easy, but it is not always the case. Using concrete examples, having good improvisation skills, vocalizing correctly or considering timing are useful strategies.

• Featured article: "The 10 basic communication skills".