Social communication involves using language to interact with others in a variety of different situations. Success in the workplace involves having the ability to effectively share and understand ideas. It can also involve building and maintaining positive workplace relationships as the social culture is an important aspect of a work environment. There are many different underlying skills that go into being an effective communicator, which we will explore in this chapter.
Disclaimer: Some of the skills below may be uncomfortable and utilizing them may feel exhausting or lead to masking. Know that practicing these skills can make them easier. That being said, it is your choice whether you want to use any of the strategies below. We list them here because most jobs involve some degree of social interaction, and it may be challenging navigating social expectations in different work settings. See the self-advocacy section of this manual to learn strategies to help your employer understand your differences to promote acceptance of neurodiversity so that you can fit in exactly as you are.
- Hidden expectations
- Non-verbal cues
- Workplace social skills
- Interpersonal relationships
- Conversation
- Putting it all together
| Module 1 | Hidden expectations |
|---|---|
| Topic 1 | Hidden expectations - Introduction |
| Topic 2 | Unspoken rules and Body Language |
| Topic 3 | What is the Hidden Curriculum |
| Topic 4 | Asperger’s Syndrome: Learning Unwritten Social Rules |
| Topic 5 | Different communication styles |
| Module 2 | Non Verbal Cues |
| Topic 1 | Nonverbal cues - Introduction |
| Topic 2 | Expressing and understanding welcoming vs unwelcoming social cues |
| Topic 3 | Practice |
| Topic 4 | Personal Hygiene in the workplace |
| Topic 5 | Sarcasm |
| Module 3 | Workplace social skills |
| Topic 1 | Workplace social skills - Intro |
| Topic 2 | Responding to Criticism |
| Topic 3 | Giving feedback |
| Topic 4 | Asking for help |
| Topic 5 | Perspective Taking |
| Topic 6 | Video - Snack attack |
| Topic 7 | Discuss and document |
| Topic 8 | Suggestions for Group and Team Work |
| Module 4 | Interpersonal Relationships |
| Topic 1 | Finding Friends |
| Topic 2 | Interpersonal Do’s and Don’ts  |
| Topic 3 | Emphatic Listening |
| Topic 4 | Let's practice |
| Topic 5 | Conflict Resolution |
| Topic 6 | Conflict resolution follow-up |
| Topic 7 | How to deal with conflict |
| Module 5 | Conversation |
| Topic 1 | Greetings and Introductions |
| Topic 2 | Joining a conversation |
| Topic 3 | Maintaining a conversation |
| Topic 4 | Conversation breakdowns |
| Module 6 | Putting it all together |
| Topic 1 | Interview skills |
| Topic 2 | Common question 1 |
| Topic 3 | Common question 2 |
| Topic 4 | Common question 3 |
| Topic 5 | Common question 4 |
| Topic 6 | Common question 5 |
| Topic 7 | Common question 6 |
| Topic 8 | Common question 7 |
| Topic 9 | Common question 8 |
| Topic 10 | Common question 9 |
| Topic 11 | Common question 10 |
| Topic 12 | Common question 11 |
| Topic 13 | Common question 12 |
| Topic 14 | Common question 13 |
| Topic 15 | Common question 14 |
| Topic 16 | Common question 15 |
| Topic 17 | Interview reminders |
| Topic 18 | Written Communication |
| Topic 19 | Talking on the phone |
| Topic 20 | Resigning |
| Topic 21 | Finding the Right Fit |