Interpersonal intelligence: definition and tips to improve it
The Interpersonal intelligence it is a concept that derives from the development of Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. It is a type of intelligence that, together with the others, enables us to adapt to the environment and to the interactions with others in an optimal way.
In particular, interpersonal intelligence is that which It explains the degree to which we are able to make an approximate estimate of the mental states and moods of others. Thus, someone with a good interpersonal intelligence is able to capture the intentions of others, their feelings (which may be more or less external), know what information is missing from others ... and, as a consequence, interact well with these people, by adapting to them and even predicting certain aspects of them.
See beyond words
It must be said that this capacity is not limited only to the way of interpreting the words spoken by others, but rather It also extends to the ability to read facial expressions, movements and even behavior patterns . Therefore, it does not depend only on the information that the other person gives us about herself.
Beyond the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, interpersonal intelligence can relate to concepts such as social skills or emotional intelligence (in its social aspect, since intrapersonal intelligence can also be included in this idea).
In short, this type of intelligence is related to our way of adjusting to the mind and acts of others and the way we interact with the people who define us.
How are people with good interpersonal intelligence?
For the above, you may already be thinking of trades and professions that are characterized by exploiting this type of skill . Professionally, these people are usually those that offer a part of their added value that is related to their ability to solve diplomatic tasks or related to face-to-face contact with many people.
Examples of these profiles are the commercial ones, the lawyers, the professors, the public speakers and, of course, the psychologists .
Interpersonal intelligence in modern times
The truth is that, in the information age, interpersonal intelligence has become very important both in our personal lives (in which we relate to a much larger number of people than was normal a century ago) and in the professional field, where diplomacy with different types of agents is almost inevitable.
That is why it is worthwhile to dedicate some efforts to try to improve it. You can read below some keys to face this task .
Tips to improve interpersonal intelligence
1. Ask yourself what you know others do not know
In your interaction with other people, there may be cases where you make references to facts or things that others do not know. Assuming that other people have the same information that you can make the conversation go smoothly or even have some somewhat uncomfortable moments .
2. Give gestures more credibility than words
People can lie with words, but it is much more difficult to lie with the body. That is why the gestures of the face, the posture and the movements of head or arms give us an information that, in the occasions in which it is not ambiguous, it is more reliable than the one that gives us the content of his speech.
3. Think about how they see you
To better interpret what people around you do, it's a good idea think first about how they can be interpreting what you do . Make efforts to keep in mind that what the rest do depends in large part on how they perceive you.
4. Do not be afraid to ask
Certain relevant aspects deserve a question. When you notice that there is something that stands between you and the others in your communication, assesses the possibility of asking directly what it is about . However, it is also good to ask yourself what possible topics are not good that are attacked frontally in your conversation, since some questions can put others in a violent situation or can hurt the sensitivity of someone to be fully exposed.
