Cast your mind back to your school or university days. Remember the cleverest kid in class? Perhaps not the most socially skilled but certainly the smartest. The brainiac, boffin, geek or nerd. Maybe it was even you? Bill Gates is probably the most famous example of this kind of brainy kid now hugely successful. However, it’s not so easy to find many more famous examples. The more you look at well-known success stories: Barack Obama, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey etc., the more it seems their accomplishments have a lot more to do with their people skills and street smarts than their so-called braininess.

There is a whole range of research in both animals and humans, from a range of disciplines in medicine, psychology and sociology investigating these different forms of intelligence. It turns out that it is social intelligence and communication rather than technical knowledge that makes us brainy. As we evolved as humans we needed to communicate and collaborate to survive. This meant the best collaborators and team players were the ones that escaped the clutches of the sabre tooth tiger and made it through the Ice Age. The ability to learn from others and to develop and invent new behaviours for problem solving has been shown to be pivotal for brain development and evolution.

In other words survival of the fittest became survival of the social.

The processing power needed for the complexity of human interactions, dealings, negotiations and collaborations simply requires a big brain to manage. Braininess in reality is about social intelligence as well as IQ. Big-brained mammals are able to exploit their surroundings more effectively using this form of knowledge and therefore survive and evolve. This applies in the modern context more than ever. Success and wellbeing in knowledge economies are increasing as a result of our ability to connect, collaborate and create. Based on this thinking let’s consider the attributes of the 21st Century brainiac.

Top 7 characteristics of social intelligence along with tips on how you can apply them in your own everyday life:

1. Social awareness

What social circles do you operate in every day? Consider both your prgofessional and personal environment. Do you understand the dynamics? What is the culture of your organization or circle of family/friends? What are the politics? Are you aware of the delicate interplays taking place and are you well placed to assert yourself in this picture?

2. Empathy

What motivates others? Are you aware of their sensitivities? Can you connect with people from a range of backgrounds and with different ambitions? By empathizing with others you will be able to form deep and relevant relationships. Research has shown this is one of the key aspects of social intelligence and is worthy of development in us all.

3. Influencing skills

Are you the kind of person who can get others on side? Can you bring people into a discussion and engage them by appealing to their own interests? Are you able to create win-win situations for people where they feel comfortable with your influence on them? This skill is essential for success in a whole range of fields.

4. Attention

Are you what they call an active listener? Can you tune in to what people say in an attentive manner and consider how they are feeling? Are your lines of communication open and forthright? If people feel you listen and act on their words they will trust you and consider the relationship close and credible.

5. Passion for developing others

Do you invest your personal time in coaching, supporting and mentoring others? This does not have to be in a formal way, rather just a thing you do. Are you happy putting energy into useful and constructive feedback for others? By being passionate, keen and interested in the development of others you will foster trust and closer ties – and feel good.

6. Teamwork

Do you support team or family members and encourage cooperation? Are you comfortable seeking support from those in the team based on their input? Teamwork is one of the key reasons for human brain size and evolutionary success. It is so ingrained in our way of thinking it can be applied to pretty much anything to generate personal or professional results.

7. Inspiration

Are you able to paint a picture of a great future when communicating? Can you use this vision to build pride in the group and build a positive tone based on emotion? Will people follow you not because of who you are but because of what you say and do? The emotional aspect of social intelligence is the most fundamental and yet the most difficult to grasp. Master this one and people will follow you forever.

Social intelligence is about tapping into being human

Think about your own social situations and how you can harness the power of your massive human brain to great effect. By developing social intelligence to share and engage with others you are tapping into one of the essential qualities of being human. What better way to start the day?

Sources:

Goleman D. and Boyatzis R. (2008) ‘Social Intelligence and the Biology of Leadership’, Harvard Business Review, September
Reader, S. and Laland, K. (2002) ‘Social intelligence, innovation, and enhanced brain size in primates’, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. April
Wilson A C. (1985) ‘The Molecular Basis of Evolution’ Sci Am. 253