Can you recommend a book for a newly-promoted researcher who isn't used to managing a team?
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posted by mateuslee
on May 20, 2013 -
9 answers
People don’t like me. Somehow, I’m one of those individuals who rub most of the population the wrong way. All right, then. With that knowledge, how do I move ahead and have a decent life?
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posted by silly me
on May 19, 2013 -
24 answers
I'd like to find a book for my little girl that goes into some of the unwritten social rules and give specific tips on how to interact with other kids in various situations (including difficult ones), and doesn't focus on pathologizing or fixing anything.
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posted by Eolienne
on May 13, 2013 -
20 answers
I received some feedback recently that I come across as arrogant, condescending, and pretentious. How can I stop coming across this way, externally? How can I get at the root of underlying attitudes, internally?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 24, 2013 -
53 answers
I see a lot of people refer to 'social skills' as an amorphous entity that encompasses being 'good with people', or apply extraverted-individual standards to define them (such as 'mingling at parties' or 'engaging in small-talk'). What I'd like to see is a set of actual skills, something like 'the skill of knowing how to write longhand', or 'the skill of tuning a piano': really specific and concrete, with broad applications regardless of one's lack of desire to mingle at parties or in bars. I guess I'd like to know what the hive mind thinks are the specific skills necessary to succeed in college (that is, with professors and/or fellow students) or with professionals in a semi-informal working environment. Bonus for specific skills needed for a teacher. Bonus-plus for breaking down any skill into aspects or components.
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posted by reenka
on Feb 18, 2013 -
17 answers
I grew up as a painfully shy, socially anxious extrovert. No friends that weren't online, could not talk to anyone. This was not a fun combination, so after Highschool I worked on fixing it and I've gotten better. I can make small talk, break the ice, carry on a general conversation. But this is not what I want.
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posted by Pericardium
on Feb 9, 2013 -
10 answers
Do you have suggestions/recommendations for games and/or desensitization practices with the objective of improving social skills?
Shyness and/or introversion filter. [more inside]
posted by Dances with sock puppets
on Nov 30, 2012 -
8 answers
What should I do when large numbers of somewhat important people find me unpleasant to be around? Can I make myself more pleasant?
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posted by jumelle
on Nov 16, 2012 -
28 answers
Past experiences with obnoxious, micromanaging-prone colleagues, etc., have left me with a tendency toward knee-jerk defensive reactions to even the mildest, friendliest comments about my hobby/crafting projects-in-progress. I don't like having these reactions, but I'm at a loss as to how to deal with them less awkwardly and am thinking some better "scripts" need to be added to my personal phrase bank. Suggestions? (Lengthy details abound...)
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posted by aecorwin
on Nov 5, 2012 -
13 answers
One of my awesome boyfriend's distant relatives noticed that I'd liked a kind message she left for my SO on his wall, checked my page, saw that he and I were together and sent me a private message asking if we could be Facebook friends. As a general rule, I do not friend people I've not met in person. I've never been great at sugarcoating things; how can I politely and respectfully decline?
posted by oogenesis
on May 25, 2012 -
30 answers
I want to have more sex, but I don't want to get hung up about it. How do I stop obsessing about (not) getting any?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 25, 2012 -
17 answers
I'm an intensely introverted 18 year old living in somewhat of a social vacuum. I need some advice.
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posted by csjc
on Mar 7, 2012 -
18 answers
I rarely vent (except about philosophical or political matters) and don't see the point in complaining about my day. My wife behaves differently. Often she gets mad that I "have no response" to her complaints. How should I deal with these situations?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 27, 2011 -
57 answers
How does one deal with constantly being told that they've done something wrong to another person?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 18, 2011 -
19 answers
I'm not really interested in other people and their lives. I don't like this and I want to change.
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posted by PFL
on Aug 30, 2011 -
37 answers
How does a long-time recluse reintegrate into society? Need advice on how to spark an inner desire to socialize, and how to transform my mindset into one that makes socializing enjoyable.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 22, 2011 -
37 answers
Social Skills filter: I'm looking for proper resources to learn social skills, especially around the workplace. Very much a special snowflake-type situation with lots of details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 17, 2011 -
17 answers
In friendships, I have a hard time seeing myself as the concrete stuff I can bring to it (helping others, entertaining them). I can't see people appreciating me for my "soft" qualities (kindness, affection, etc.). Although I can appreciate other people for more than what they bring me in concrete ways, I can't put words on the things I like about them. What kinds of qualities are good to see in friends?
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posted by Monday, stony Monday
on Jun 27, 2011 -
17 answers
What kinds of professional careers are there that involve working with people and helping them that won't bore me or burn me out?
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posted by Neely O'Hara
on Jun 24, 2011 -
15 answers
I need to improve my social and relationship skills. Can anyone recommend a behavior therapist in NYC who does social skill training and takes Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 28, 2011 -
3 answers
I'm a woman in my 30s. Six months ago, I moved cities to be with my boyfriend. Things with him are going pretty well, but I really, really miss my old friends, and I really need to make some new friends. How can I make some new friends?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 23, 2010 -
16 answers
Unbearable loneliness is making me consider trying therapy again. I'd like to work with someone who can give me concrete help on improving my social skills. Do such therapists exist, and how can I find one?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 21, 2010 -
12 answers
How do I encourage people I'm working on a magazine with to do better and work harder without being a dick?
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posted by ejfox
on Oct 21, 2010 -
13 answers
How do I become one of those people who makes everyone they talk to feel great? With bonus: how to manage the situation gracefully if this is taken as a come-on...
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posted by Chrysalis
on Aug 14, 2010 -
24 answers
Mind-reading Filter: What does this mean - "Well, I'm totally booked up this week... I don't know what my schedule is next week."
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posted by XMLicious
on Aug 10, 2010 -
21 answers
When you first meet someone, aside from personality type, what are things that the person can say or do that would make you NOT want to spend time with them again?
I'm late developing social skills (social anxiety in HS; stayed inside 90% of the time) and one thing I've noticed is that while people take an interest in me initially, I haven't had any success maintaining that interest.
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posted by biochemist
on Jul 17, 2010 -
31 answers
My brother, who is a young adult with autism and other mental disabilities, got himself banned from Facebook because he was bugging "friends" of his friends. I need help explaining the unwritten rules of social networking, and creating some basic guidelines for him to follow when he tries Facebook again. (Much more inside.)
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posted by me3dia
on Jul 2, 2010 -
21 answers
I don't work or go to school. I have no friends. I live with/off my parents. Interacting with people – especially people I don't know – makes me very nervous. It's been like this for years. How do I turn my life around?
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posted by anonymous
on May 6, 2010 -
25 answers
My sister panics in trivial social situations. Immersing herself in everyday social encounters is not helping her make any progress, so I'm looking for ways she can feel more comfortable in social situations.
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posted by qmechanic
on Apr 3, 2010 -
16 answers
How can someone who never leaves home and who is dependent on others keep her social skills from deteriorating?
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posted by TEA
on Apr 2, 2010 -
9 answers
Does anyone know of some good reads on conversation and social skills? I'm not suggesting that you can learn these subjects entirely by a book, but what I'm looking for is some methods to make communication a little bit easier when meeting someone or groups of people.
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posted by Garden
on Oct 30, 2009 -
8 answers
What are the best English-language books in existence on improving one's social and conversational skills?
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posted by cotesdurhone
on Oct 24, 2009 -
8 answers
Are there any children's books or movies that can help a parent to discuss or teach better social skills to a preschooler?
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posted by jeanmari
on Jun 14, 2009 -
10 answers
Some people have this mysterious ability to be -
disarming. Please explain this skill and help me learn it!
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posted by kitcat
on Feb 10, 2009 -
26 answers
Have crush on co-worker; not sure how to deal. I have questions within questions, and need both honest and realistic answers about basic human interaction. Rather lengthy.
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posted by phonebia
on Feb 9, 2009 -
30 answers
SocialSkillsFilter: How can I become better at reading people, and telling whether or not someone is interested in pursuing a friendship farther?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 2, 2008 -
12 answers
Just out of the closet. Little bit socially clueless. Teach me how to behave at a gay bar.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 22, 2008 -
9 answers
Do people with under-developed social skills know that their skills need work? If so, how?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 14, 2008 -
23 answers
I've always admired people who are just genuinely nice, warm folks and inspire everyone they talk to. I'd like to be one of those people when I grow up, but I don't know how to do it. Sometimes, when I do or say nice things, people get freaked out and think that I'm hitting on them, want something from them or am being insincere. That isn't the case, but every time it happens, I get a little more timid about doing nice things for people.
It's easy to get by with a prickly Dorothy Parker routine, but that's not how I want to live my life. And I'm sick of not doing or saying nice things just because I'm not socially adept enough to pull it off.
Being an asshole is easy, and no one ever questions your motives. How can I, as an introvert, act upon my nice impulses without freaking people out? What's the secret to being a mensch?
posted by freshwater_pr0n
on Nov 14, 2007 -
28 answers
