Last Updated on September 8, 2022 by Editors Desk
Ever wondered what the people around you think about the same situation that you are in? Or how they react and what’s the reason behind their reaction? Not in an obsessive manner, but in a generally healthy way?
This is what social awareness is about. Knowing the people around you and analysing their behaviour and constructing a view as to why the person is reacting in a certain manner.
What is Social Awareness?
We all need to work on developing our social awareness. It broadly refers to being aware of and comprehending the world around us.
The social environment in which we live is comprised of environments, cultures, communities, societal norms, issues, struggles, and all other relevant factors.
The best way to describe social awareness in terms of emotional intelligence is as our capacity to accurately comprehend and empathise with the emotions of others.
The following three qualities best describe Social awareness.
Service:
This skill entails being able to recognise the requirements of clients and customers who are in the area.
Empathy:
The capacity to comprehend the feelings, requirements, and circumstances of others.
Organizational Awareness:
This refers to the capacity to comprehend organizational politics and how they impact individuals.
What does it mean to have an open mind?
The ability to actively seek out evidence that contradicts one’s preferred beliefs, plans, or goals and to fairly consider that evidence when it is presented are both characteristics of open-mindedness. The ability to think clearly and independently is not a requirement for being open-minded.
Why is it important to have Social Awareness?
As social beings, we inhabit a society where forming and maintaining relationships with others is essential to living a fulfilling life. Because of this, it is crucial to be able to comprehend others’ emotions.
The lack of social awareness can make life much more challenging and conflict-filled.
Social awareness simply means we will relate to our fellow person in a more constructive and meaningful way. It doesn’t mean we will become social butterflies overnight. We will be able to comprehend their challenges and their joys better.
In order to establish rapport and forge lasting relationships, it is important to be able to relate to others.
How does Social Awareness encourage greater open-mindedness in us?
Being open-minded simply means being more understanding and empathic. This is only possible if the person is socially aware. By being socially aware, people gain a wider perspective and understand the importance of respecting other people’s behaviour, hence becoming open-minded. Other than these two elements, social awareness also helps in bringing compassion into people. When a person attains these qualities, he/she makes the world a better place to live in.
If you are socially aware, you’ll be able to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Understanding what they are going through, you might even be able to help that person out.
You develop a sense of responsibility towards society and understand that every reaction has a reason behind it.
Getting good at it can be very challenging. We frequently focus on ourselves so much that understanding others becomes a low priority for us. But it is a skill that is valuable and that we should all work to develop.
Being open-minded is somehow linked with being socially aware. Once people become open-minded, they develop social awareness and vice-versa.
How to be more socially aware?
- Being self-aware is the first step to being socially aware. When a person learns to recognise his/her own thoughts and feelings, it becomes easier to understand others.
- Observing people also acts as a tutorial when it comes to understanding human behaviour and the reasons behind their actions.
- On the path to connecting with other people and your environment, mindfulness meditation and other calming techniques are extremely helpful.
- You will get better at observing others, yourself, and different situations as you become more composed and mindful. For this, mindful meditation has proven to be very useful.
- You’ll be less likely to be overcome by challenging social situations if you have a deep capacity for forgiveness. You’ll be much better able to interact with people as a result.
- Lastly, being a good listener would do wonders. It helps create a safe space for everyone around you and reduces awkwardness or hesitation, which in turn would improve communication and understanding.
Your emotional intelligence heavily relies on social awareness. Don’t whine about those who can’t understand your needs. Instead, concentrate on developing your emotional intelligence and putting self-serving, organizational awareness, and empathy into practice.
Emotional intelligence requires social awareness as a fundamental building block. Hence making you more open-minded and a boon to society.
