Unless you're always outward going then there comes a time in everyone's life where they need to improve their social skills. Maybe not all the time, just in certain situations where you'd otherwise feel uncomfortable. Here are some tips to help you be more socially adept.
1. Learn to listen Listening skills have always been important. Probably even since before we discovered language. But they are definitely very important nowadays. It's not just the words that people speak but the emphasis and intonation they place on those words. You've only got to think of a time when someone labored the word "Yes" and it took on a completely different meaning, almost as though they were using it as shorthand for "not you again". So you need to tune in not just to the words being said and who is saying those words but also how they are being said. Everyone in the group you're socializing with could say the exact same sentence yet give them a different meaning. So learning how to listen is a very important social skill.
2. Don't just feign interest We all know when the other person in the conversation is just making the right noises rather than being interested in what we're saying. Sometimes we do this ourselves with those boring relatives or work colleagues who we have to endure but would rather we were somewhere else. But it's not a good way to build your social skills. You'll end up appearing more like a politician kissing yet another baby or shaking hands with a potential voter. And that's not a place many people would volunteer to be.
3. Learn to keep quiet It's not a case of only speaking when spoken to. It's more a case of being polite. As a general rule, you should let the other people in the conversation do an above average amount of talking. Because providing you listen to what they are saying and chip in with some intelligent remarks every now and then, they'll appreciate you all the more for it and will often seek out your company. Keeping your mouth shut can be hard but it pays dividends. Especially when it means that you're not constantly interrupting the other person because you're so keen to have your say.
4. Stay positive It's easy to get hung up on the occasional criticism. We tend to blow negative comments out of all proportion - there will always be someone we don't get on with but if the other 98% (or whatever) of people are happy to be around us then we should pay attention to the majority. Staying positive isn't always easy but, like most things, it gets easier with practice. Use affirmations, hypnosis and whatever else it takes to keep your attitude mainly positive. It will pay dividends with your social skills.
5. Check your body language How you stand. Whether you're smiling or grimacing. Whether your eyes are making regular contact with the other people you're mixing with or whether you're avoiding everyone else's gaze. All these and more will affect how you are perceived by other people and will be reflected in your perceived social skills. Brush up on body language with one of the excellent books on the topic. Or go the quick route and view a few YouTube videos, making sure that you get a consensus as sometimes these self filmed creations can be way off the mark.