UNIT 5 – SOCIAL LITERACY

Learning Outcomes

1. Define social literacy

2. Discuss social skills, their impact and strategies for improvement
3. Describe an emotionally intelligent person.
4. Identify ways on how to integrate social literacy on the lesson

Social Literacy

Social literacy means the presence of social skills, knowledge and positive human
values that support ability in human beings to act positively and responsibly in range of
complex social settings and their ability to successfully and deliberately mediate his/her
world as family member, worker, citizen and lifelong learner.

In the classroom, Social Literacy is a students successful performance and

understanding of social Skills, organizational skills, and communication skills. It is the
students ability to connect effectively with those around them. Social literacy spans
across interacting with peers, family, coworkers, teachers, and even people we may not
have met face to face.

Social Skills

Social skills are used to communicate with others daily in a variety of ways
including verbal, nonverbal, written and visual. Social skills are also referred to as
interpersonal or soft skills.

Verbal skills involve the spoken language, while nonverbal communication

includes body language, facial expressions and eye contact. Any time you interact with
another person, you’re using social skills in some way. Strong social skills can help you
build and maintain successful relationships professionally and personally.

Types of Social Skills

There are types of social skills that teachers can demonstrate among students to attain
a harmonious relationship with them

1. Effective communication

The ability to communicate effectively with others is a core social skill. If you have
strong communication skills, you’ll be able to share your thoughts and ideas clearly with
others. Effective communicators make good leaders because they can easily explain projects
and goals in an easy-to-understand way.

2. Conflict resolution

Disagreements and dissatisfaction can arise in any situation. Conflict resolution is the
ability to get to the source of the problem and find a workable solution. Good conflict
resolution skills are important in any job

3. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and identify with the feelings of another
person. If you have empathy, others will often be more likely to confide in you. Being
more empathetic takes a conscious effort to carefully consider how others feel. If you
strengthen your empathy and rapport with others, you can build stronger, more
respectful and open relationships.

4. Active listening

Active listening is the ability to pay close attention to a person who is

communicating with you. Active listeners are typically well-regarded by their coworkers
due to the attention and respect they offer others. You can increase your listening skills
by focusing on the speaker, avoiding distractions and waiting to prepare your response
only after the other person is finished (rather than while they are speaking).

5. Relationship management

Relationship management is the ability to maintain healthy relationships and

build key connections. For example, if you have a job in customer service, you might be
responsible for nurturing the relationship between your company and a specific set of
client

6. Respect

A key aspect of respect is knowing when and how to initiate communication and
respond. In a team or group setting, allowing others to speak without interruption is a
necessary communication skill that shows respect. Respectfully communicating can also
mean using your time with someone else wisely—staying on topic, asking clear
questions and responding fully to any questions you’ve been asked.

How to Improve Social Skills

Improving your social skills can benefit you in every area of life. Social skills are
important because they can help you communicate more effectively and efficiently. As a
result, you’re able to build, maintain and grow more meaningful relationships with
colleagues, clients and new contacts alike.

Here are 10 ways to develop your social skills:

1. Engage with others

Find ways to further conversations with friends, family and close coworkers or
practice your conversation skills by asking open-ended questions. Similarly, set a small
goal for yourself to offer at least one project or business strategy at your next board
meeting.

2. Start in small ways

Start developing your social skills in small ways by engaging with people you
interact with on a daily basis. For instance, if you are out shopping, you might reply
with a question instead of a one-word answer when a checkout clerk asks how your day
is going. Similarly, you can find ways to lengthen conversations with acquaintances or
practice your conversation skills with long-distance relatives you speak to less often.

3. Ask open-ended questions

Asking open-ended questions can be an effective way to get others talking. It

can help by allowing you insight and understanding into your friends, family, colleagues
and even your superiors. When you engage with an open-ended question, it can help
them feel validated in their thoughts and emotions, and this can have a positive impact
on how you build relationships. Oftentimes, coworkers may appreciate being asked
open-ended questions, since it shows you are taking interest in their ideas. Try the
following open-ended questions: “How do you feel about…?” “Can you tell me more
about…?” “What do you think of…?”

4. Observe your coworkers’ social skills

Another step toward developing your social skills is to observe your colleagues.
Take notice of nonverbal communication, body language (such as smiling and nodding)
and the vocabulary they use to get a conversation going. Consider what makes your
coworkers’ social skills effective and engaging. You can refer to these observations and
incorporate them into your own communication skills.

5. Practice maintaining eye contact

Practice maintaining eye contact during conversations. Consider setting a goal to

make and hold eye contact for at least three to five seconds each time you engage with
someone. You might practice with a close colleague with who you feel comfortable. Let
them know you are trying to improve your ability to maintain eye contact. Practice
holding eye contact during the beginning of the conversation, when listening to your
coworker speaking and while thanking them and closing the conversation.

6. Develop your listening skills

Equally as important as being able to share your own thoughts is being an active
listener. In doing so, you allow others to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and input.
Practice your listening skills by maintaining eye contact, using nonverbal communication
like nodding when you agree and asking clarifying questions when hearing something
you misunderstand.

7. Invite a coworker to lunch or for coffee

Building relationships with others can seem intimidating, but it helps to start with
developing a relationship with one person at a time. First, find a teammate that works
in a similar role as you and invite them to lunch or to have coffee. Having a role or job
responsibilities in common can give you topics in common to talk about, but eventually,
try asking questions to get to know them better as an individual. As you build more
relationships, connect on a one-on-one level with people who work in different areas of
the business. This can help you grow your professional network and gain a better
understanding of how the work you do impacts the business as a whole.

8. Offer genuine compliments freely

Complimenting others on a job well done is a great way to demonstrate

friendliness and appreciation of others. They can act as an opening to a larger
conversation or ongoing conversation. Be sincere—a compliment that is disingenuous
can work against you.

9. Find social skills resources

There are many classes, books, podcasts and tools available both on and offline to help
you improve your social skills. Try searching for resources based on a specific topic such
as body language, networking or active listening. From there, put your learnings into
practice.

10. Keep up with current events

Staying up to date on current trends, events and news stories can give you
topics to talk about with others. Consider subscribing to local news alerts or industry-
specific newsletters to have content sent directly to you. As a best practice, avoid
controversial topics like politics or religion to keep conversations professional and
friendly
Emotional Skill

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate
emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and
strengthened, while others claim it's an inborn characteristic.

The ability to express and control emotions is essential, but so is the ability to
understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. Imagine a world in which
you could not understand when a friend was feeling sad or when a co-worker was
angry. Psychologists refer to this ability as emotional intelligence, and some experts
even suggest that it can be more important than IQ in your overall success in life.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, continues to be an increasingly popular skill to

have in the professional world. Many may be wondering why emotional intelligence
continues to increase in importance among peers in an evolving workplace. Simply put,
emotional intelligence is not a trend. Major companies have compiled statistical proof
that employees with emotional intelligence undoubtedly affect the bottom line. In fact,
companies with employees that have high levels of emotional intelligence see major
increases in total sales and productivity.

10 Ways to Increase Your EQ

In a competitive workplace, developing your EQ skills is vital to your professional

success. Below are 10 ways to increase your EQ:

1. Utilize an assertive style of communicating.

Assertive communication goes a long way toward earning respect without coming
across as too aggressive or too passive. Emotionally intelligent people know how to
communicate their opinions and needs in a direct way while still respecting others.

2. Respond instead of reacting to conflict.

During instances of conflict, emotional outbursts and feelings of anger are common.
The emotionally intelligent person knows how to stay calm during stressful situations.
They don't make impulsive decisions that can lead to even bigger problems. They
understand that in times of conflict the goal is a resolution, and they make a conscious
choice to focus on ensuring that their actions and words are in alignment with that.

3. Utilize active listening skills.

In conversations, emotionally intelligent people listen for clarity instead of just waiting
for their turn to speak. They make sure they understand what is being said before
responding. They also pay attention to the nonverbal details of a conversation. This
prevents misunderstandings, allows the listener to respond properly and shows respect
for the person they are speaking to.

4. Be motivated.

Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivated and their attitude motivates

others. They set goals and are resilient in the face of challenges.

5. Practice ways to maintain a positive attitude.

Don't underestimate the power of your attitude. A negative attitude easily infects
others if a person allows it to. Emotionally intelligent people have an awareness of the
moods of those around them and guard their attitude accordingly. They know what
they need to do in order to have a good day and an optimistic outlook. This could
include having a great breakfast or lunch, engaging in prayer or meditation during the
day or keeping positive quotes at their desk or computer.

6. Practice self-awareness.

Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware and intuitive. They are aware of
their own emotions and how they can affect those around them. They also pick up on
others' emotions and body language and use that information to enhance their
communication skills.

7. Take critique well.

An important part of increasing your emotional intelligence is to be able to take

critique. Instead of getting offended or defensive, high EQ people take a few moments
to understand where the critique is coming from, how it is affecting others or their own
performance and how they can constructively resolve any issues.

8. Empathize with others.

Emotionally intelligent people know how to empathize. They understand that

empathy is a trait that shows emotional strength, not weakness. Empathy helps them to
relate to others on a basic human level. It opens the door for mutual respect and
understanding between people with differing opinions and situations.

9. Utilize leadership skills.

 Emotionally intelligent people have excellent leadership skills. They have high
standards for themselves and set an example for others to follow. They take initiative
and have great decision making and problem-solving skills. This allows for a higher and
more productive level of performance in life and at work.

10. Be approachable and sociable.

Emotionally intelligent people come off as approachable. They smile and give off a
positive presence. They utilize appropriate social skills based on their relationship with
whomever they are around. They have great interpersonal skills and know how to
communicate clearly, whether the communication is verbal or nonverbal.

The 10 Qualities of an Emotionally Intelligent Person

1. Empathy

“Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from
within their frame of reference, i.e., the capacity to place oneself in another’s position.”

We empathize based on the reaction to others. What I’d also say is that empathy
can be cultivated and learned through experiences. Store away in your memory those
feelings that you feel both in reaction, and as you put things in perspective. Write these
thoughts out, analyze them and determine how you want to treat others in the same
way you’d want to be treated.

2. Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the art of understanding yourself, recognizing what stimuli

you’re facing and then preparing for how to manage yourself both in a proactive and
reactive manner. Self-awareness is how we see ourselves, and also how we perceive
others to see us. The second, external aspect, is always the most difficult to properly
assess.

3. Curiosity

Show me a curious person who’s willing to learn and improve, and I’ll show you a
success story waiting to happen. When you’re curious, you’re passionate, and when
you’re passionate you are driven to want to be your best. Your “antennae” are up to
things you love, to wanting to grow and learn more. This learning mindset positively
affects other areas of your life like relationships.

4. Analytical Mind

The most emotionally intelligent and resolute people are deep-thinkers that
analyze and process all new information that comes their way. They continue to analyze
old information, habits and ways of doing things to see if they can extract ways to
improve. We’re all “analysts” in the sense that we consciously think about all new
information that comes our way.

5. Belief

A major component of maintaining emotional self-control is using the power of

faith to believe in yourself both in the present and in the future. It’s believing that the
people and things in your life are there for a reason, and that everything will ultimately
work out for good.

Faith alone will not help you. It takes action, of course. But when you combine
faith with powerful values like hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude, you
have formed the foundation of a champion. Every great leader and thinker uses faith,
either in a practical context, emotionally and certainly spiritually.

6. Needs and Wants

The emotionally intelligent mind is able to discern between things that they need versus
things that would be “nice to have” that classify more aptly as wants. A need,
particularly in the context of Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” is the basic-level
stuff like safety, survival and sustenance. Once those things are met, then we can
progress to other needs and of course, wants.

A “want” is a big house, nice car, and even the brand new iPhone. We do not
need those things to survive, but rather we want them based on our own personal
desires or what we perceive to matter to society. Become well-versed in knowing what
you truly need to to live, to accomplish goals and to support yourself and loved ones.
Make sure you draw a very clear distinction between what it is you need, and what it is
you want.

7. Passionate

Inspired leadership and love for what you do is born from having a passion for a subject

or people. People with a high EQ use their passion and purpose to ignite the engine that
drives them to do what they do. This passion is infectious and contagious — it

permeates all areas of their lives and rubs off on the people around them.

Passion is sort of that je ne sais quoi that when you feel it, or even when you see

it in others, you simply know. Passion is the natural desire, instinct, drive, ambition and

motivated love for a subject or someone. Passion brings positive energy that helps

sustain us and inspire us to want to keep going. And there’s no secret that emotionally

intelligent people who are passionate are also willing to persevere and power forward no

matter their circumstances.

8. Optimistic

If you want to increase your opportunities, improve your relationships and think clearly

and constructively, you’re best positioned to maintain a positive attitude. Of all the

things that we try to control and influence, our attitude is the primary thing that is

always within our control. We can choose to live each day by being positive. It’s that

simple.

“When we are happy — when our mindset and mood are positive — we are smarter,
more motivated, and thus more successful. Happiness is the center, and success
revolves around it.” — Shawn Achor
9. Adaptability

“Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance and assimilation.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

Emotionally intelligent people recognize when to continue their course, and when

it’s time for a change. This vitally important recognition and ability to make crisp, swift

decisions in your best interest is called adaptability. You must determine when to stay

the course, or when to keep moving forward in another direction.

Similarly, when one strategy is not working, try evaluating and determining if

something else will work. From the way you treat yourself, to how you treat others, to

your daily routine, always stay open-minded and be willing to adapt and introduce new

elements to how you think and what you do.

Throughout your life, you’ll need to change course and make assessments on

whether you’ll be happy and successful if you choose one path or another. Recognize

that you CAN always change. You can always start over. It may not always be the most

prudent or wise decision, but only you will truly know in your heart what is or what isn’t.

Start with leaving the option on the table.

10. Desire to Help Others Succeed and Succeed for Yourself

Last but not least, an emotionally intelligent person is interested in overall success

and achievement — not just for themselves, but for their peers. Their inspired leadership

and passion, combined with their optimism, drives them to want to do best for

themselves AND others.