Social Agency at a glance
Social Agency refers to a continuum of behaviour that results from your ability to make decisions in social situations (as opposed to monitoring others for potential threat displays).
WHEN YOU EXCLUSIVELY PRIORITIZE SOCIAL THREATS
- You find social situations anxiety provoking.
- You can better detect deception and disingenuity.
- You attend to others’ motives in social situations.
- You are skilled at “reading the room”.
- You avoid the scrutiny of others.
WHEN YOU EXCLUSIVELY PRIORITIZE SOCIAL INTERACTION
- You enjoy social situations very much.
- You take other people at face value.
- You attend to your own enjoyment in social situations.
- You are skilled at quick mingling.
- You take pleasure in others’ attention.
Each MIPI dimension is measured on a continuum that ranges from 0 - 90.
| COMPETENCY IS ABSENT | 0 - 15 | 16 - 30 | 31 - 45 | 46 - 60 | 61 - 75 | 76 - 90 | COMPETENCY IS MAXED |
| MIDPOINT | |||||||
These continua can be subdivided into 6 “hextiles” that represent signposts of behaviour, radiating outwards from the midpoint. These hextiles appear below. Click their names for more details.
| INCREASINGLY TENDS TOWARDS SOCIAL ANXIETY |
INCREASINGLY TENDS TOWARDS SOCIAL INTERACTION |
When a client's score is malleable, the competency in question is not in the client’s repertoire. The client will almost exclusively use alternative competencies.
In the case of malleable Social Agency, the client will almost exclusively prioritize watching for social threats and will seldom, if ever, trust in their own social interaction skills.
| Hextile: | SA-A03 |
| Representation: |
left strong |
| Nearest adjective: | “perceptive” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “vigilant”, “astute” |
| T-score range: | 0 - 15 |
As with all MIPI competencies, malleable Social Agency can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
- Sensitive to others’s emotions
- Able to detect disingenuity
- Insightful into other’ social motives
- Has impeccable manners
- Non-threatening
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
- Social anxiety
- Aloof demeanour
- Sensitive to criticism
- Worries about what others think
- Assumes the worst of people
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
- Situations that involve “reading the room”
- Preparing others for formal social gatherings
- Reporting body language observations
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
- Social gatherings full of strangers
- Social events with no privacy access
- Situations involving public scrutiny
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- Introduce team members one-at-a-time. Meeting new people is stressful for someone in this band.
- Explore fears. Try to understand what aspects of social situations make them uncomfortable.
- Reinforce strengths. Someone in this band is very sensitive to social cues. Teach them that this is an asset.
- DO NOT introduce a team all at once. This would overwhelm them and they might not return.
- DO NOT avoid group work. Someone in this band needs practice making social decisions for themselves.
- DO NOT put them in the back row. Someone in this band will try to hide and stay quiet about their opinions.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
- Give yourself a job to do at the event. This can give you a sense of purpose and take your mind off your anxiety. It will also give you something to talk about.
- Bring a friend if you can. The next time you have to attend a social gathering, if circumstances allow, bring a supportive friend to have as an anchor.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Develop and practice your assertiveness. This involves recognizing the rights and respect to which everyone (inlcuding you) is entitled.
- Practice mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques. This involves improving your mind-body connection to lower your anxiety in stressful situations.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with malleable Social Agency.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is developing, the client has begun to use the competency but will still resort to using alternatives for most situations.
In the case of developing Social Agency, the client will prioritize watching for social threats, but will also trust in their own social interaction skills when it feels safe to do so.
| Hextile: | SA-A02 |
| Representation: |
left moderate |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 16 - 30 |
As with all MIPI competencies, developing Social Agency can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Practice the “ARE” technique to intiate conversations with strangers. This involves encouraging dialogue around something common that you both share.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with developing Social Agency.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is balanced (left), the client has a good balance between the competency in question and its alteratives, but will gravitate towards alternatives under pressure.
In the case of balanced (left) Social Agency, the client is equally comfortable watching for social threats and trusting in their own social interaction skills, but will prioritize social threats when threatened or presented with an ambiguous situation.
| Hextile: | SA-A01 |
| Representation: |
left slight |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 31 - 45 |
As with all MIPI competencies, balanced (left) Social Agency can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Use “Socratic” techniques to build rapport. This involves following various question frameworks to encourage meaningful dialogue.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with balanced (left) Social Agency.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is balanced (right), the client has a good balance between the competency in question and its alternatives, but will gravitate towards the competency under pressure.
In the case of balanced (right) Social Agency, the client is equally comfortable watching for social threats and trusting in their own social interaction skills, but will prioritize their own social interaction skills when threatened or presented with an ambiguous situation.
| Hextile: | SA-B01 |
| Representation: |
right slight |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 46 - 60 |
As with all MIPI competencies, balanced (right) Social Agency can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Learn to read facial and vocal cues. This involves staying mindful of the different emotional displays others present when you are speaking with them.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with balanced (right) Social Agency.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is solidifying, the client has begun to explore alternatives but will still resort to using the competency in question for most situations.
In the case of solidifying Social Agency, the client will prioritize trusting in their own social interaction skills, but will also keep an eye out for social threats when it feels safe to do so.
| Hextile: | SA-B02 |
| Representation: |
right moderate |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 61 - 75 |
As with all MIPI competencies, solidifying Social Agency can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Learn to read body language. This involves paying attention to clusters of non-verbal signals that others display when you are interacting with them.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with solidifying Social Agency.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is reinforced, alternatives to the competency are not in the client’s repertoire. The client will almost exclusively use the competency in question.
In the case of reinforced Social Agency, the client will almost exclusively prioritize their own social interaction skills and will seldom, if ever, keep an eye out for potential social threats.
| Hextile: | SA-B03 |
| Representation: |
right strong |
| Nearest adjective: | “confident” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “magnetic”, “suave” |
| T-score range: | 76 - 90 |
As with all MIPI competencies, reinforced Social Agency can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
- Highly engaging
- Positive self-regard
- Easy-going manner
- Unfazed by light criticism
- Confident in their own social skills
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
- Limited sense of etiquette
- Unresponsive to threat displays
- Takes others at face value
- Prone to take social risks
- Attention-seeking
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
- Social gatherings full of strangers
- Hosting and entertaining others
- Representing colleagues
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
- Situations that involve “reading the room”
- Hosting quiet or shy people
- Situations with strict etiquette rules
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- Review your ground rules. Someone in this band may take unwanted liberties.
- Watch for cues they miss. Someone in this band may routinely miss social cues from others.
- Let them cheerlead. Their easy manner can encourage less confident group members.
- DO NOT dwell on your ground rules. Someone in this band may find this unnecessarily obstructive.
- DO NOT punish lapses in judgment. Be gentle about how you point out social gaffes.
- DO NOT ignore quieter group members. Someone in this band will have an enthusiasm that may frighten others.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
- Review targeted rules of etiquette for ahead of a social gathering. This will help you remember to keep others’ comfort front-of-mind.
- Prioritize listening over speaking during social engagements. This will help you forge better, more mutually satisfying conversations.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Learn to interpret “epistemics” and “pragmatics”. This involves reading the intent behind specific interpersonal emotional displays.
- Learn to read body language. This involves paying attention to clusters of non-verbal signals that others display when you are interacting with them.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with reinforced Social Agency.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.