Social Awareness – Emotional Intelligence 2.0
In this episode of The Present Professional, John and Tony take you deeper into the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 series—focusing on social awareness and why it’s a critical skill for building authentic relationships at work and in life.
They explore how social awareness starts with inner work—your self-awareness and self-management—and then expands outward to how you show up with others. From greeting people by name to catching the mood of the room, they share practical and engaging stories that bring these concepts to life.
You’ll learn how to:
Recognize and read the energy in any room
Use active listening to build stronger connections
Develop back-pocket themes for conversations (not scripts!)
Navigate awkward silences with confidence
Show empathy without fixing or interrupting
Plan ahead for social events—even as an introvert
Understand workplace culture without losing your identity
Whether you’re networking, leading a team, or navigating everyday interactions, these insights will help you communicate with clarity, build trust, and connect on a deeper level—especially in a hybrid, post-pandemic professional world.
Why This Episode Matters
Social awareness is more than just paying attention—it’s about tuning into others with genuine presence. The ability to truly see and understand someone else’s experience gives you a powerful edge in both your personal and professional relationships.
“The face of emotional intelligence is empathy.” – Tony
Key Themes:
Recognize and read the energy in any room
Use active listening to build stronger connections
Develop back-pocket themes for conversations (not scripts!)
Navigate awkward silences with confidence
Show empathy without fixing or interrupting
Plan ahead for social events—even as an introvert
Understand workplace culture without losing your identity
What we discussed:
0:27 Social awareness in interactions
7:34 Greeting people by name
8:05 Practicing the art of listening
14:39 The art of listening
19:06 Having an agenda in social settings
21:35 Connecting with family at gatherings
25:36 Back pocket questions in conversations
29:45 Catching the mood of the room
33:36 Building rapport in the workplace
38:23 The face of emotional intelligence
Other ways to connect:
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Growth?
Listening is the first step. Now it’s time to turn insight into action.
If today’s conversation around the third pillar of emotional intelligence resonated with you, we invite you to take the next step in your development with our Leadership Emotional Intelligence Assessment.
🧠 Start with our free EI snapshot – a quick, powerful way to better understand your leadership strengths and emotional blind spots.
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