{"id":4367,"date":"2023-10-01T13:50:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T17:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/5-simple-habits-to-build-your-social-skills\/"},"modified":"2023-10-01T13:50:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-01T17:50:12","slug":"5-simple-habits-to-build-your-social-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/5-simple-habits-to-build-your-social-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Simple Habits to Build Your Social Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
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There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.<\/em><\/p>\n

Most people accept that the world is not a meritocracy.<\/p>\n

You can have the best credentials and resume in the world and (1) not make partner, (2) not get that promotion, and (3) not even get your foot in the door. It happens routinely, and most of the time we accept it as a result of the age-old adage Life is about who you know\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to add an addendum to that saying, that it\u2019s not actually about who you know, it\u2019s about who likes you<\/em>.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the importance of building social skills as a habit.<\/p>\n

Why Social Skills are Important<\/h2>\n

Social skills are the greasy crowbar that will get you exactly where you want in life, even if you don\u2019t quite belong there (at the moment).<\/p>\n

People will move mountains for those they like, so let\u2019s dive into some quick tips to help you build your social skills habit.<\/p>\n

The eyes are the window to the soul. Shifty eyes. Kind eyes. Bedroom eyes. <\/em><\/p>\n

We all hear that eye contact is important, but we almost never get advice to improve it besides to fake it \u2018til you make it<\/em>, which isn\u2019t very useful.<\/p>\n

The key to eye contact is dealing with the tension<\/strong> \u2013 the feeling you get when you hold eye contact with someone and have to look away out of discomfort. <\/p>\n

To do anything significant with eye contact like bedroom eyes, you need to first increase your tension tolerance \u2013 it\u2019s the gatekeeper to connecting with people and appearing honest and trustworthy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So how can you get over the inherent discomfort of sustained eye contact?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no substitute for tackling eye contact tension besides exposure to it. <\/p>\n

Grab a pair of sunglasses and head outside to an area with foot traffic. Position yourself so that you are facing oncoming traffic. Put your sunglasses on and stare into people\u2019s eyes as they walk by, remembering that they can\u2019t see you. <\/p>\n

Build up your immunity to that tension in a safe space where no awkwardness can occur! Soon you won\u2019t need sunglasses to fearlessly hold eye contact with anyone.<\/p>\n

The interesting part is that people won\u2019t look at your eyes for more than a split second, even though they don\u2019t think you\u2019re looking at them.<\/p>\n

Eye contact is also an essential interpersonal communication skill.<\/a> People pass a lot of information with simple eye contact than they realize. Poor eye contact is also one of the many nervous habits that can show your inner turmoil<\/a> to others. <\/p>\n

2. HPM (History, Philosophy, and Metaphor)<\/h2>\n

Sometimes in conversation, we flat out run out of things to say.<\/p>\n

Our minds blank for a second and awkward silence<\/a> ensues. That\u2019s why HPM is so important \u2013 it ensures that you will never run out of things to say, and will inject life back into any conversation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HPM stands for history, philosophy<\/em>, and metaphor.<\/em> <\/p>\n

For example, in response to a statement about puppies, you could reply with your history (a personal story involving puppies), your philosophy (opinion on puppies), or metaphor (what puppies make you think of).<\/p>\n

There are only so many ways that we answer other people, and these 3 elements are perfect to keep in your back pocket because they are things literally everyone has. They will prompt a personal response from others and perhaps they will share their own HPM.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good cheat for when your mind blanks.<\/p>\n

As with all good things, mastering the HPM technique takes practice. Watch teh video below to learn about the 9-step process about building habits that you can immediately implement.<\/p>\n