Adulthood is that phase in your life when you are expected to be independent. It is therefore important that you are equipped with adult social skills. You may be living alone or considering marriage right now. But at this point in life, you are very dependent on the past training you have learned at home and acquired in school.

You now have your own set of beliefs and values which may dictate the kind of friends and acquaintances you will have. However, there are many skills you need to function as adult. For example, being able to maintain interpersonal relationships is one form of adult social skills that employers consider when hiring people.

There are 7 categories to consider in adult social skills. Check and know which area you need to develop in yourself.

1. Environmental Skills. This covers the area of being independent in terms of doing household activities, from simple washing of dishes, cooking, to making your bed. Included in this is also how you keep your home a desirable place to live in. Simple trouble shooting of electrical equipment or assembling something according to instructions are part of environmental skills. Skills in driving, reading maps and following traffic directions also belong to this area.

2. Financial Skills. It is said that you attract independent people when you yourself show independence. This much desired independence we are talking about is concerned with financial skills. Financial skills include the ability to enter into a contract, put up a business, hire an attorney and to be able to pay bills and dues on time.

3. Social and Civic Skills. This skill includes the ability to consider the feelings of others, to be sensitive about their moods, intentions and motivation. This area is most concerned with how developed your self esteem is. This means you know yourself, can face rejection and defeat yet still rise from any negative experience. If you have this, you are capable to participate in civic activities or even run for public office.

4. Employability skills. In this area, you know your adult social skills and can use them. You know how to conduct presentations during meetings and thus can be an asset in the company. The education you acquired from school are the basis of the skills you would present to your future employer. Social skill is important because you have to get along well with your officemates.

5. Friendship and Intimacy Skills. At this level, you are most likely at the stage of looking for a lasting relationship that could lead to marriage. However, it is natural that you may have to look everywhere before you get to meet the right partner. By this time, you must be able to set for yourself the level of intimacy you want from your partner. You are now capable in entering into a relationship like marriage and be able to keep if.

6. Parenting Skills. This does not mean that you should have already experienced parenthood yourself to have this skill. Knowing the need of youngsters from different age levels is where this skill is applied. Likewise, the ability to understand the elderly also falls in this area.

7. Life Planning Skills. You are now expected to be able to plan for your life. Plan for a family, especially the number of children you wish to have. This includes planning for the future of your family and who will be your partner for life.

The above mentioned skills comprise the adult social skills you need. If you fall short on some of it, then it is about time to look into improving it. Stand up, and socialize - there are lots of people around who can become your real friends. Do not be afraid of letting your adult social skills stand out.

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About the Author

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available only at: conversation starters