How can you improve social awareness skills in your group?

2 Observe nonverbal cues

Another way to improve your social awareness skills is to observe the nonverbal cues of your group members. Nonverbal cues are the signals that people send through their body language, facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, and gestures. They can reveal a lot about their emotions, attitudes, and intentions, even if they don't say them out loud. By observing nonverbal cues, you can better understand the mood, energy, and dynamics of your group, and adjust your communication and behavior accordingly.

4 Practice empathy

A fourth way to improve your social awareness skills is to practice empathy with your group members. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and feel what they feel. It is not the same as sympathy, which is feeling sorry for someone. Empathy helps you connect with your group members on a deeper level, and show them that you understand and support them. To practice empathy, you need to be attentive, compassionate, and respectful. You can try to imagine what your group members are going through, and express your empathy verbally or nonverbally.

5 Learn from diversity

A fifth way to improve your social awareness skills is to learn from the diversity of your group. Diversity is the variety of backgrounds, cultures, identities, and perspectives that your group members bring. It is a valuable resource for peer support and leadership, as it can enrich your learning, creativity, and problem-solving. To learn from diversity, you need to be inclusive, respectful, and curious. You can celebrate the differences and similarities among your group members, and encourage them to share their stories, experiences, and insights.

6 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?