Last updated on Jul 7, 2024

Here's how you can improve your social awareness to better understand and connect with your teams.

Improving your social awareness is key to connecting with your team as an executive. This skill allows you to sense the emotions and understand the perspectives of those around you, fostering a more cohesive and empathetic work environment. By enhancing your emotional intelligence, you can create stronger relationships, improve team dynamics, and drive better outcomes. It's not just about what you say or do, but how you make others feel. As you navigate the complexities of leadership, remember that social awareness can be your compass, guiding you to lead with both your head and your heart.

1 Listen Actively

Active listening is the cornerstone of social awareness. It involves fully concentrating on the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully. To practice active listening, maintain eye contact, nod to show understanding, and avoid interrupting. Paraphrase what you've heard to confirm comprehension. This not only shows respect for your team members' input but also helps you grasp the nuances of their communication styles and concerns.

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Wazir Ali

Manager Supply Chain Operations. |Ex-UDL |Ex-FMC |Ex-GFG |CSCP (CILT) |Power BI(LUMS)| SAP S/4Hana|MM|SD|PP | Supply Chain| Procurement| Demand Planning| Demand Forecasting| Logistics | Warehouse |Inventory Management.|
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Improving your social awareness is crucial for understanding and connecting with your teams effectively. Here are several strategies to enhance your social awareness: 1. Active Listening: 2. Ask Open-Ended Questions 3. Seek Feedback 4. Develop Cultural Awareness 5. Create a Supportive Environment 6. Continuously Learn and Adapt By improving your social awareness, you can enhance your ability to understand, connect with, and support your teams effectively. This not only contributes to a positive work environment but also facilitates collaboration, trust, and productivity within your team.

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Dyllin Bates

Writer, public speaker, and community outreach specialist Activist for the empowerment of those that experience homelessness. Writer of how we can make life beyond today better.
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The way to foster active listening is by focusing on your perspective being rooted in curiosity, compassion and understanding. As when we listen a lot of time we are actively weighing it with what we think. When learning from conversations we have to let that information set aside so we can see if this information is something we can later apply. As if we just say we don’t understand and don’t listen then we could be missing an idea because we haven’t taken the time to be curious and compassionate enough to weigh it as a viable. Viable doesn’t mean you just roll with it. It means that you are willing to play the game and try it out. Compromise is met when others we you meet them halfway.

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Marco Odoardi

Transformative Leader | Pharma & Consultancy executive | Visionary in Supply Chain & Logistics I Strategy & Digitalization believer | McKinsey & MIT Alumnus
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Learn from “Renzo Rosso” (CEO & Owner of global clothing brand Diesel) In a famous Italian podcast, the Italian self-made entrepreneur Renzo Rosso gave a powerful image of “listen actively”. “Listen actively from everyone you meet: this is an opportunity for you to learn something new. Vice-versa, when you speak, you don’t learn anything new. You just repeat things you already know” To me this is the essence of “listening actively”. Tune all your attention toward someone to learn

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2 Observe Non-Verbal

Non-verbal cues, such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, can reveal a lot about a person's feelings and attitudes. As a leader, sharpening your observation skills can provide insights into your team's morale and engagement levels. Take note of these silent signals during interactions; they might tell you more than words do. Recognizing and responding to non-verbal communication can help you address unspoken issues and improve team dynamics.

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3 Empathize Genuinely

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. To enhance social awareness, strive to empathize genuinely with your team members. Acknowledge their emotions and perspectives, even if they differ from your own. This builds trust and shows that you value them as individuals. Empathy also helps in conflict resolution by allowing you to see the situation from multiple angles and find common ground.

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4 Ask Questions

Asking open-ended questions encourages dialogue and shows your interest in your team members' thoughts and feelings. It's an effective way to gather information and gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and concerns. Craft questions that require more than a yes or no answer, and give your team the space to express themselves freely. This practice not only improves your social awareness but also promotes a culture of open communication.

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Dyllin Bates

Writer, public speaker, and community outreach specialist Activist for the empowerment of those that experience homelessness. Writer of how we can make life beyond today better.
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Be aware when we ask our questions. As when we ask questions in away that make prowl feel dumb then they are not helpful. Ask questions in ways that help the person see that you are curious. This relates back to my point about active listening. In post prompt one. As when you listen actually you can ask questions that empower. Take a coach. They ask questions to empower the results not make the athletes feel punished.

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5 Provide Feedback

Feedback is essential for growth and improvement, but how it's delivered can significantly impact your team's reception. Offer constructive feedback with a focus on behavior rather than the person. Frame it in a way that's supportive and aimed at development. This approach demonstrates your commitment to their success and reinforces a positive team environment where feedback is viewed as a tool for learning, not criticism.

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6 Reflect Regularly

Reflection is a powerful tool for enhancing social awareness. Take time to reflect on your interactions with your team. Consider what went well and what could be improved. Reflect on how your behavior affects those around you and how their reactions, in turn, influence the team's performance. Regular self-reflection allows you to adjust your management style to better connect with and lead your team effectively.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can improve your social awareness to better understand and connect with your teams.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Listen Actively

2 Observe Non-Verbal

3 Empathize Genuinely

4 Ask Questions

5 Provide Feedback

6 Reflect Regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Executive Management

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Here's how you can improve your social awareness to better understand and connect with your teams.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Listen Actively

2 Observe Non-Verbal

3 Empathize Genuinely

4 Ask Questions

5 Provide Feedback

6 Reflect Regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Executive Management

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