In a world that seems to be run by social media, it’s extremely important that business professionals never let their in-person social skills deteriorate. Whether you’re looking to move up the career ladder, improve your management skills, inspire growth and innovation within your company or simply build more personal relationships, utilizing social skills will always come in handy. Here are a few tips based on wise quotes from Dale Carnegie, the author of “<a href="http://www.dalecarnegie.com/events/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people/">How to Win Friends and Influence People</a>,” that can help you nourish your social skills.

<b>Be Aware<a href="http://leadchangegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/middlepage_teams.jpg"></b>

<i>“There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.”</i>

Being aware of your own social skills and how people are responding plays a huge role in how successful you will be socially. Remind yourself that there are always improvements that you can make to your own social skills. Pay close attention to your body language, tone and the social cues of those around you. While you may think you have the ultimate social skills, after you take a look around at how others are truly responding, you might find out otherwise.

<b>Get Other Perspectives</b>

<i>“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”</i>

Knowing when to listen is one of the most important social skills to master. Every person wants to feel as though someone genuinely cares about their opinions and thoughts. By listening to how other people feel, you can gain important insights that can be useful in business. Even simple conversations that may seem basic can really help you learn about a person and build rapport.

<b>Remind Yourself That Everyone is Different</b>

<i>“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.”</i><b></b>

One of the great things about people is that we all come from different backgrounds and have different beliefs. This can also make it easy to get frustrated by people who disagree with you or don’t understand the point that you are trying to get across. It’s important that you always try to relate to others. Remember to reflect on what others tell you. Even if you disagree, take the time to learn and understand another person’s perspective. Showing empathy and remaining positive is a great way to build relationships, even with people you disagree with.

Don’t underestimate the impact that exceptional social and <a href="http://www.dalecarnegie.com/events/how_to_communicate_with_diplomacy_and_tact/">communication skills</a> can have on your career. Tap into a deeper source of social power by working on your social skills today. What social skills have you found useful in your life? Please share your stories, insights and tips below!