Hermit in the Wilderness OR How Social Media May Be Ruining Your Social Skills

How comfortable are you when speaking with others? Do you find you can make conversation easily or do you get tongue tied? Are you able to get your point across effectively or do you go off on tangents? Is your conversation so spare that it comes across as abrupt? How often do you take the time to actually speak with others? Many people today prefer to use texts or emails to stay in contact with each other.


Although it can be highly efficient, it has a rather unpleasant side effect. We get out of the habit of speaking directly with people. It's much easier to deliver bad news if we don't actually have to see the person's face or hear their voice. This can leave us with a decided lack of empathy. Not good.


Social skills are use it or lose it. The more we speak with others whether in person or on the telephone the more comfortable we are with the activity. If we don't have many opportunities to speak with others, we should take the time to seek them out, particularly activities where we meet a variety of people. For example, a great group to join is Toastmasters. Dedicated to improving the speaking and communication skills of their members, it's a great way to learn and practice. You can find a Toastmasters club near you at www.toastmasters.org . Don't be afraid to visit a few clubs to find one you best suited for you.


Also, step up your networking efforts. The great thing about attending a networking event is that everyone is to meet other people so there is always someone willing to talk to you. It's a great way to practice your skills and build your network at the same time.


Finally, pick up the phone instead of sending that email or text. The real time two way give and take that comes from holding a conversation will be of more value in resolving a situation and helps build a relationship in ways that the printed word just doesn't. Plus, the "real time" interactions of a phone call can give you the answers/information you need within the space of a few minutes instead of the time consuming back and forth an email requires.

Don't become a hermit in a wilderness cabin, communicating only by "letters". The old Bell phone company used the slogan Reach Out and Touch Someone. Do it. There's a reason that's so effective. It works!