How to become less socially retarded (serious)?

Hi,

So basically, I've realized that I'm not that smart and to get a job, I need to be good enough socially so people may hire me because I'm "fun to work with". This is legitimately, more than grades, something I want to work on my last year and a half or so of college. I've already lost leadership in clubs because I'm an anti-social, depressing piece of shot, so please give me serious answers so I can at least be a fun person even if my GPA and extra curriculars are lacking. I need help particularly starting conversations with everyone and not just being a stock market nerd.

Thanks

How to Improve Social Skills

We weren’t all born with that innate know how or desire to be outgoing and the life of the party. However, building relationships is an important part of any career. If you’re more on the introverted/shy/socially awkward end of the spectrum, it’s worth investing some time to learn how to become more comfortable when speaking with others. Here are a few tips from the WSO community:

Join Groups

  • Join Toastmasters
  • Try improv classes
  • Join a social group on campus, most schools have hundreds of student activities groups ranging from intramural sports to Quidditch to dining clubs to activist groups

Be a Good Person

  • Be a positive person
  • Being liked involves being a genuinely good person
  • Don't put down others to make up for your own insecurities
  • Try to be well read and knowledgeable so your opinions are given serious weight, but unless people ASK for you to weigh in on potentially sensitive issues (politics, religion, view on gay marriage, etc.), stick to discussing facts and leave out the color commentary
  • Take your work seriously, but never yourself - so laugh more

Practice, Practice, Practice

  • Talk to everyone, and exude confidence, which is as simple as good eye contact, the tone of your voice and a smile
  • Emulate those who are the life of the party
  • Look for a common interest with whomever you are speaking with - that is what will truly spark the conversation
  • Just take a risk and understand that there is nothing to lose
  • Set a goal of talking to some number of people this week that you don't know

Read These Books

Related WSO Reading

 

Drinking a lot and "getting out there".....you would be surprised how social you become when you have more to talk about than the latest episode of CSI.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

Buy the book, "Power - Why Some Have it and Others Don't" Read the first chapter, throw it away and go to a bar. Walk up to a random chick walking down the sidewalk and ask to buy her a bagel. She'll say no and you'll realize that you aren't dead and that life goes on. It's like anything else dude, just gotta go out and do it.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
Best Response

One thing I picked up from the working world... no one likes someone who is always talking others down, because the common perception is that if you're openly shit talking co-workers, then there's a chance you'll shit talk THEM behind their back.

Be a positive person... not to the point of being Kool-Aid drinking retard, but if you spend time talking about good traits of other people then people might feel that you're more inclined to say good things about THEM, and in turn want to improve their relationship with you. Don't go around complimenting random people for no reason, but we had a new guy start a while back and I grabbed a beer with him after work and he was pretty fun, so why not let others know? You don't need to verbally blow the guy to others, all I said was "You know that new guy Brett? I grabbed a beer with him, he's a good shit" and moved on with the conversation.

Being liked involves being a genuinely good person. Don't put down others to make up for your own insecurities, don't constantly shit on other people's parade. Try to be well read and knowledgeable so your opinions are given serious weight, but unless people ASK for you to weigh in on potentially sensitive issues (politics, religion, view on gay marriage, etc.), stick to discussing facts and leave out the color commentary. Not everyone gives a shit what you think, but they will appreciate you providing information for them to base opinions off of.

 
oSnap:
One thing I picked up from the working world... no one likes someone who is always talking others down, because the common perception is that if you're openly shit talking co-workers, then there's a chance you'll shit talk THEM behind their back.

Be a positive person... not to the point of being Kool-Aid drinking retard, but if you spend time talking about good traits of other people then people might feel that you're more inclined to say good things about THEM, and in turn want to improve their relationship with you. Don't go around complimenting random people for no reason, but we had a new guy start a while back and I grabbed a beer with him after work and he was pretty fun, so why not let others know? You don't need to verbally blow the guy to others, all I said was "You know that new guy Brett? I grabbed a beer with him, he's a good shit" and moved on with the conversation.

Being liked involves being a genuinely good person. Don't put down others to make up for your own insecurities, don't constantly shit on other people's parade. Try to be well read and knowledgeable so your opinions are given serious weight, but unless people ASK for you to weigh in on potentially sensitive issues (politics, religion, view on gay marriage, etc.), stick to discussing facts and leave out the color commentary. Not everyone gives a shit what you think, but they will appreciate you providing information for them to base opinions off of.

Great post.

 
Anonymous1:
oSnap:
One thing I picked up from the working world... no one likes someone who is always talking others down, because the common perception is that if you're openly shit talking co-workers, then there's a chance you'll shit talk THEM behind their back.

Be a positive person... not to the point of being Kool-Aid drinking retard, but if you spend time talking about good traits of other people then people might feel that you're more inclined to say good things about THEM, and in turn want to improve their relationship with you. Don't go around complimenting random people for no reason, but we had a new guy start a while back and I grabbed a beer with him after work and he was pretty fun, so why not let others know? You don't need to verbally blow the guy to others, all I said was "You know that new guy Brett? I grabbed a beer with him, he's a good shit" and moved on with the conversation.

Being liked involves being a genuinely good person. Don't put down others to make up for your own insecurities, don't constantly shit on other people's parade. Try to be well read and knowledgeable so your opinions are given serious weight, but unless people ASK for you to weigh in on potentially sensitive issues (politics, religion, view on gay marriage, etc.), stick to discussing facts and leave out the color commentary. Not everyone gives a shit what you think, but they will appreciate you providing information for them to base opinions off of.

Great post.

Pretty spot on.

Take your work seriously, but never yourself - so laugh more. Talk to everyone, and exude confidence, which is as simple as good eye contact, the tone of your voice and a smile. Emulate those who are the life of the party.

Get out there and meet as many people as you can. Take initiative and start the conversation. Look for a common interest with whomever you are speaking with - that is what will truly spark the conversation. Idk man, just take a risk and understand that there is nothing to loose.

 

...........................................________ ....................................,.-'"...................~., .............................,.-"..................................."-., .........................,/...............................................":, .....................,?......................................................\, .................../...........................................................,} ................./......................................................,:`^`..} .............../...................................................,:"........./ ..............?.....__.........................................:`.........../ ............./__.(....."~-,_..............................,:`........../ .........../(_...."~,_........"~,_....................,:`........_/ ..........{.._$;_......"=,_......."-,_.......,.-~-,},.~";/....} ...........((.....*~_......."=-._......";,,./`..../"............../ ...,,,___.\`~,......"~.,....................`.....}............../ ............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-" ............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\ .............\`~.*-,.....................................|,./.....\,__ ,,_..........}.>-._\...................................|..............`=~-, .....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\ ...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\ ................................`:,,...........................`\..............__ .....................................`=-,...................,%`>--== ...................................................,-%.......`\ ...................................,

 

Drink, find people to drink with. Play loud drinking games that get you kicked out of bars when out with just the guys. Karaoke when out with women. Don't be a hater. Talk to everyone, because they are all just as insecure, they can just hide it better.

 

If you are a happy person within, it will show. If not, it will show. The world is more clever than we give it credit for. Our true selves ALWAYS emerge in the long run. ALWAYS.

Think and be positive, and everything else will flow.

The next step is practice. You have to get out there and not be afraid of looking the fool. Don't be afraid of rejection or censure or whatever. Stay positive and keep engaging people.

 
ivoteforthatguy:
Read The Game by Neil Strauss. The principles generalize beyond picking up women.

I'd be real careful with that, there are some points that translate well to networking and others that should be only used to trick drunk girls into one night stands... negging co-workers or people you're networking with will likely do more harm than good. Demonstrating higher value is good, but intentionally lowering the value of those around you will backfire when you're trying to build long term relationships with people where your end game is to get something from them (a referral).

 
oSnap:
ivoteforthatguy:
Read The Game by Neil Strauss. The principles generalize beyond picking up women.

I'd be real careful with that, there are some points that translate well to networking and others that should be only used to trick drunk girls into one night stands... negging co-workers or people you're networking with will likely do more harm than good. Demonstrating higher value is good, but intentionally lowering the value of those around you will backfire when you're trying to build long term relationships with people where your end game is to get something from them (a referral).

Yes, you do have to be careful. Some of the tactics, such as negging, are STRICTLY for sargeing on chicks. Neg a GUY hard enough and he will punch you in the cock. Trying to demonstrate high value to your work group in the Strauss mode will win you their contempt as an unbearable douchenozzle in no time.

Select your tools carefully.

The important thing is the underlying theme: project GENUINE CONFIDENCE in all that you do. That will solve 80% of your social problems. It gets only easier with time.

 

3rd vote here for "The Game". A lot of people think it's just about hitting on girls, but in reality it's about relating to people, make and female. Strauss and the "pickup culture" have done a lot of studying around what makes people enjoy the company of others, how to be the kind of person people want to be around, and how to create that magnetic personality that attracts women and makes guys want to be your friend. It's applicable in bars on the weekend, and then in the office on Monday morning.

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

Humans are naturally anti-social species. We are lone gatherers, something like wolves. That is why the beer/drug companies make money hand over fist, preying on the insecurities and shortcomings of human nature. Thats why every recommends a book, a beer, a miracle pill, or some other social lubricant. Once you realize that everyone else is just as anti-social as you, except they mask it by taking the advice of others(reading a book), or social lubricants(mind-altering substances), then you will will realize how unhappy most peoples realities are.

 

Jeff,

There's a lot of good suggestions in this thread but you essentially need to keep only one thing in mind.

People like to feel good. This can mean different things for different people. Using girls as an example, some like to be complimented and some like a mean motherfucker to tell them what to do and how to do it. There's no magic formula.

Get to know people. Don't be pushy. Remember that "fitting in" often means quantity > quality. You won't be able to build strong relationships with everyone and if you try hard you will often get disappointed.

Set a goal of talking to some number of people this week that you don't know. I would go with 15 that's 2/6 days and 3 on the 7th. It doesn't have to be anything major...stand at a crosswalk and say loudly in the direction of the person next to you "this fucking dont walk sign sucks", they probably won't respond...may roll their eyes...may talk back or may call you an asshole...it doesn't matter.

What you will realize via repeated interaction with people and this is what those of us with actual game know...is that people have little "tells" and signals that will show you how to proceed...

Big eyes, gaping mouth...excitement, shock, awe

Squinting, stiff chin...spite, resentment, anger

The more you talk to people, the more you will recognize these visual cues. This is what those with high emotional intelligence posses over those with a high intelligence quotient.

Above all, however, you have to adopt a good attitude. You're a 20ish year old kid who hasn't seen shit in life and you're already convinced that you are somehow lacking because you haven't gotten into IBD (yet).

Fuck people. Go out. Enjoy. Fuck up royally. Learn from it. That's the only proven path to success and happiness.

Good luck.

 

Are there any ways to be social without drinking? I've tried most alcoholic drinks, I've gone out with friends at drinking parties before and I know that it just isn't for me. Any tips for still acing fun despite being the only sober person at a party?

Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer.
 

Watch the Yes Man with Jim Carey. Everyone laugh if you so choose. I'm a social person, but I tend to be a flake.

Take some risks with people. Happypantsmcgee was right about living after failure. The worst you can hear is no, and if you're an a$$ you'll get slapped or a drink thrown on you.

Don't be afraid to make fun of yourself, just don't do it to the point where other people feel uncomfortable or start agreeing. Simple stuff.

Make cheesy jokes, they're better than not making them at all, and people might think that you're playing with them.

Most importantly, be empathetic, put yourselves in others shoes. Not only will it help you be more genuine, but it will improve your own self-awareness.

Read the 4 Agreements too, it seems like you need to know yourself before you can get to know others. You shouldn't want to learn how to function around people just to get a job, it's an essential component to happiness (however you may define it).

 

Jeffrey,

First off, it's good that you're asking for advice now, before you're 25, a virgin, and sit in your apartment on weekends playing online scrabble. It's better to admit you're not that apt socially, and try to change.

I think all the above advice should be taken, including books and randomly starting conversations.

I met one of my best friends this way. We both work in the same office building, and we were both going up the elevator at the same time. Similar to what someone said above, I said "This fucking elevator is so slow." He agreed and started laughing, and then we had a short conversation about where we worked. Later that week we were both heading out to lunch at the same time, so I asked if he'd like to join me, and then we just sort of hit it off.

At first you may say "Dude that's gay," or something like that, but if you just seem genuine and nice, you make friends that way. And with new friends come new contacts who he's friends with, and it also helps you meet new girls (through new friends and being able to go out as a group).

The worst that could've happenned is that he said he already had plans for lunch. It's not worth it to be scared- take chances now while you have the chance.

 

Ducimus accusantium sequi atque rerum qui. Nisi qui ut consequatur molestias. Rerum in ducimus quibusdam deleniti saepe sequi qui. Et accusamus animi voluptas ut nesciunt. Consequuntur ipsum ipsa cum. Vel aliquid magni laudantium unde corporis doloribus ut eum.

Adipisci voluptatem voluptatem corporis. Quas consequatur hic laboriosam vel et officiis aut. Est sint nesciunt doloribus officia. Voluptas dolorem laudantium perspiciatis deserunt.

Officiis sunt omnis quia consequatur vero. Aut autem ut accusamus officiis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”