Today is Friday, so this post is on interpersonal competence.
Last Friday, I wrote about Daniel Goleman’s new book Social Intelligence. As it turns out, Karl Albrecht has a book by the same name with a subtitle The New Science of Success. I picked up a copy of Mr. Albrecht’s book and really liked it.
Like so many writers, Mr. Albrecht has created an acronym to help readers grasp his ideas of social intelligence: S.P.A.C.E. Situational awareness. Presence. Authenticity. Clarity. Empathy.
Here’s a quick look at each of these...
Situational awareness: the ability to read situations and interpret the behaviors of people in those situations.
Presence: often called “bearing”, the whole range of verbal and non verbal behaviors that define you in the minds of others.
Authenticity: the behaviors that cause others to judge you as open, honest and real.
Clarity: the ability to explain your ideas and articulate your views.
Empathy: the ability to connect with others.
Mr. Albrecht is an acronym kind of guy. He offers several others throughout the book. Here are a few examples.
L.E.A.P.S.: Empathy by Design
- Listen
- Empathize
- Ask
- Paraphrase
- Summarize
This is time tested, common sense advice on listening.
P.O.W.E.R.: Where It Comes From, How to Get It
- Position
- Opportunity
- Wealth
- Expertise
- Relationships
There’s a lot more than meets the eye with this one – to learn more, you’ll have to read the book.
The last one, S.P.I.C.E.: Leading When You’re Not In Charge, is very important for anyone interested in becoming more interpersonally competent. I’m going to elaborate on it a bit further.
- Skills: Use your specialized knowledge, manual skills, organizing skills, technical skills and social skills to influence others.
- Procedures: Define objectives and processes that can help move a group forward.
- Information: Use the information you have, or help others use existing information effectively to become more influential. Ask simple questions like “What information do we need to solve this problem?” “Do we have it?” “Where can we find it?”
- Consensus: Look for points of agreement when trying to resolve conflicts. Summarize the discussion, propose of confirm an emerging decision, guide others through the decision making process.
- Empathy: Keep things positive and constructive – not be squelching disagreement, but by helping others relate to one another in a humane manner while they work out differences.
The S.P.I.C.E. technique is a basic course in facilitation skills. Good facilitators are influential because they can move things forward. Interpersonally competent people are good at facilitation. Mr. Albrecht has presented some great, common sense ideas for becoming a good facilitator. Use them, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a career super star.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my other blogs: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a business, and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action; and my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
Comment Preview