Being able to socialise and being great at it is not, or at least not entirely, an inborn talent. There are some skills that anyone may acquire and apply to improve their interactions with others. These could also improve networking.

Networking can help you obtain your dream job by impressing an employer, keeping up to date with current events, or simply communicating better.

So how do you get better at it? Here are five useful social tips to adopt now:

Talk less and listen to others 

We learn more by listening than by speaking. It’s easy to get caught up in the need to share what you know, and you may miss out on what the other person knows as well. Listening to someone is receiving information, whereas speaking is giving it. One is in a more advantaged position when they learn more.

Also, conversations are better off when the speech is being shared between both parties. Everyone will find it more entertaining and engaging this way. However, don’t be afraid to talk about yourself because it’s the only way to include your interests and viewpoint.

Don’t listen to respond

Learning to listen intently to the other person is valuable but difficult for most people. We usually begin formulating our responses in our brains before the other person is halfway through their speech, assuming we don’t interrupt them in the meantime.

As we try to form a bond, practicing active listening and allowing the other person to be understood can be a very good thing to do. Furthermore, maintaining eye contact emphasises the speaker’s importance to one. It’s a sign that you, too, value the discussion.

Don’t get hooked on your smartphone when networking

When you’re with other people and a message or a phone call comes in, it’s normal to want to answer straight away. However, this might make the other person feel less significant in your eyes. If the call or message is not urgent, you may want to give them a moment and make them feel important.

Using your phone during social events can induce you to be distracted and make it even harder to keep up. You must be aware of your surroundings in the same way that others are to you too. You don’t want to make a bad impression!

Keep appointments

Don’t be the person who always cancels plans at the last minute. Nobody likes to be around someone who is unreliable. This not only breaks the trust, but it also portrays you as a non-serious person, which is bad for your reputation. Arriving late or missing out also puts you in a vulnerable position of not knowing who is who, what is going on, or what will happen next; you don’t want to be the one who is continually lagging behind and asking for information.

How do you introduce yourself?

If it’s your first time meeting them, introduce yourself respectfully and provide as much information as you want them to know. However, you should also ask for their name and follow up with a few questions without pestering them.

Memorising people’s names makes them feel important and prevents you from embarrassing yourself later when you need to ask them a question or meet up with them. Repeating their name frequently, asking questions using their name, or concluding the conversation with their name may you help remember.

Don’t be the person who always cancels plans at the last minute. Net photo.