Blog Series: The 4 Pillars of Emotional Intelligence
- Heidi Dawson
- Jan 21
- 1 min read
#3 SOCIAL AWARENESS: UNDERSANDING OTHERS
The third pillar of emotional intelligence is social awareness: the ability to understand and empathize with the emotions of others.
It's about reading the room, picking up on non-verbal cues, and truly listening to what people are saying—and not saying!
Why does this matter?
Social awareness helps us build stronger connections. It’s the foundation for trust, collaboration, and effective communication.
Horses are incredible teachers of social awareness.
Living in herds, they rely on their ability to sense the emotions and intentions of others to survive.
When you work with them, they encourage you to tune into the subtle cues of body language and energy—a skill that’s invaluable in human relationships too.
Tips to enhance social awareness:
Practice active listening: Focus fully on the speaker without planning your response while they’re talking.
Observe non-verbal cues: Pay attention to body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions.
Step into others’ shoes: Try to see the situation from their perspective.
By cultivating social awareness, we become more compassionate and effective in how we connect with others.
Want to chat further?
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