1. Edition - March 2009
17.90 Euro
2009. 304 Pages, Softcover
ISBN-10: 0-470-44434-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-470-44434-4 - John Wiley & Sons






Sample Chapter

Short description
Harvard professor and bestselling author Howard Gardner made the concept of Intelligence Quotient a part of our vocabulary. With Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, the idea entered the mainstream, becoming surprisingly popular???particularly in the business world. Similarly, the concept of Social Intelligence???the ability to get along well with others and get them to cooperate with you???qualifies as one of the key life skills in Gardner's multiple intelligences theory. It is a combination of sensitivity to the needs and interests of others, sometimes called your "people radar," an attitude of generosity and consideration, and a set of practical skills for interacting successfully with others.
"More people have lost jobs, friends, marriages, and mates because of social incompetence than for all other reasons combined. The simple fact is that people who have a highly developed sense of social intelligence have more friends, better relationships, more successful careers, and happier lives than those who lack those skills," says author Karl Albrecht.
This book introduces Social Intelligence and illustrates it with interesting examples and stories of how it plays out in a variety of real-life situations. Designed as a resource for improving both interpersonal skills and group cohesiveness within any organization or team, the book includes a self-assessment as well as a wealth of tips and suggestions on how to get along better with others. For readers who are interested in looking beyond the typical "people skills" discussion, this book provides a starting place for exploring this important life skill.

From the contents
Foreword.

Acknowledgment.

Preface.

1. A Different Kind of "Smart".

Old Wine in New Bottles?

Going Beyond IQ.

EI, SI, or Both?

From Toxic to Nourishing.

Blind Spots, Lenses, and Filters.

Social Halitosis, Flatulence, and Dandruff.

The "Dilbert" Factor.

Can We Become a Socially Smarter Species?

S.P.A.C.E.:The Skills of Interaction.

2. "S" Stands for Situational Awareness.

Situational Dumbness and Numbness.

Ballistic Podiatry: Making the Worst of a Situation.

Reading the Social Context.

What to Look For.

The Proxemic Context.

The Behavioral Context.

The Semantic Context.

Navigating Cultures and Subcultures.

Codes of Conduct: Violate the Rules at Your Peril.

Building the Skills of Situational Awareness.

3. "P" Stands for Presence.

Being There.

Is Charisma Over-Rated?

Do Looks Matter?

Reading (and Shaping) the "Rules of Engagement".

The Ugly American Syndrome.

More of You, Less of Me.

A Case of Attitude.

Building the Skills of Presence.

4. "A" Stands for Authenticity.

Take a Tip from Popeye.

It's a Beautiful Day in the SI Neighborhood.

The Snap-On Smile: Can You Fake Sincerity?

Left-Handed Compliments.

The Puppy Dog Syndrome.

Narcissism: It's Really All About Me.

Head Games, Power Struggles, and Manipulation.

Building the Skills of Authenticity.

5. "C" Stands for Clarity.

A Way with Words.

Hoof-in-Mouth Disease: Sometimes Silence Works Best.

Role-Speak and Real-Speak.

Helicopter Language and Elevator Speeches.

"Clean" Language and "Dirty" Language.

Verbal Bludgeons.

Taking a Brain for a Walk.

The Power of Metaphor.

E-Prime: the Language of Sanity.

Building the Skills of Clarity.

6. "E" Stands for Empathy.

What Destroys Empathy?

What Builds Empathy?

The Platinum Rule.

The Irony of Empathic Professions.

L.E.A.P.S.: Empathy by Design.

Empathy in Four Minutes.

Building the Skills of Empathy.

7. Assessing and Developing SI.

AssessingYour Interaction Skills.

Self-Awareness: Seeing Yourself as Others See You.

Assessing Your Interaction Style: Drivers, Energizers, Diplomats, and Loners.

The Strength-Weakness Irony.

Priorities for Improvement.

8. SI in the World of Work: Some Reflections.

The Real and Legal Consequences of Social Incompetence.

Cultures of Conflict and Craziness.

Hierarchies,Testosterone, and Gender Politics.

Getting it Right at Work and Wrong at Home.

The Diversity Puzzle.

Ritual, Ceremony, and Celebration.

Positive Politics: Getting Ahead with Your Value.

System Intact.

9. SI in Charge: Thoughts on Developing Socially Intelligent Leaders.

The S.O.B. Factor.

Executive Hubris: Its Costs and Consequences.

Best Boss,Worst Boss.

P.O.W.E.R.:Where It Comes From, How to Get It.

How the Worst Bastards on the Planet Get and Keep Power.

The Algebra of Influence.

S.P.I.C.E.: Leading When You're Not In Charge.

10. SI and Conflict: Thoughts About Getting Along.

The Double Spiral of Conflict.

Why Argue?

Crucial Conversations.

Added Value Negotiating.

Epilogue. SI and the Next Generation: Who's Teaching Our Kids?

Our Children Are Not Our Children.

The (Only) Ten Basic News Stories.

Anxiety Drives Attention.

Breaking the Addiction to Television.

The Buying of Our Babies.

Video Games:The New Sandlot.

Teachers, Parents, or Neither?

Belonging or Be Longing?

The S.P.A.C.E. Solution for Schools.

A Prescription for SI at Every Age.

Index.

About the Author.