Social Thinking at Work, 2nd Edition: Strategies for Understanding and Navigating the Workplace
About this ebook
Most people are born with an intuitive sense of the social world that allows them to naturally be aware of social expectations and feeds them the information they need to follow the social code. But not everyone is born with intuitive social understanding. Social learning differences, difficulties, or disabilities can be especially challenging in the workplace, where it’s assumed employees understand not only how to do their job but how to effectively work in a group, understand the hidden rules of office etiquette and office politics, and build and maintain solid professional relationships with others.
The updated, 2nd edition of this 200+ page book is a primer about the social mind in the workplace, but the concepts and strategies are equally applicable in all areas of life. This volume includes many important updates to descriptive language to teach basic concepts. It’s largely based on the authors’ years of clinical experience working with adults who struggle socially who may or may not have a specific diagnosis. Many are highly intelligent and skilled employees who find it difficult to decipher the often-nuanced social underpinnings that are part of daily life, on or off the job.
We all want to be appreciated for who we are and how we contribute, but if our messages are communicated in a way where others feel confused or hurt, then the good intention underlying the message is lost. As a result, it’s often tough for these individuals to build the relationships and reputation necessary to excel in the workplace, regardless of their expertise or how hard they work. This book is also a good way for neurotypical employers and employees to better understand the perspectives of their Neurodivergent coworkers, as well as show empathy and sensitivity for the difficult social learning process.
Given years of feedback from our clients, adults with social learning differences, difficulties or disabilities often need information about social emotional relationships broken down and explained in a way that can help them build skills and understanding, one step at a time. This book does just that—it is a constructive and detailed guide to help adults learn how to do the “social dance” to build stronger relationships at work and beyond.
This book is also a good primer for neurotypical employers/employees or HR departments to read about the experiences and perspectives of Neurodivergent coworkers, and perhaps develop empathy for the complexity of the bi-directional social learning process. It provides practical strategies for how to effectively work in a group, understand the hidden rules of the social world—including workplace etiquette and politics—and build relationships. It also encourages employees to self-advocate when needed.
Powerful, Practical Strategies
Social Thinking at Work contains easily accessible information about core concepts that describe how we think about our own and others’ thoughts and emotions, actions and reactions, intentions, and motives. In it you’ll learn to become a stronger social observer and use strategies that increase your social competencies. Chapters address:
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The social mind, social intelligence, and how social thinking is different from social skills
The role of our emotions and social memory in office interactions
The hidden rules or expectations and social memory in various types of specific office situations
Giving compliments, asking for help, and apologizing
Seven core tenets of perspective taking and understanding others' points of view
Exploring the Social-Emotional Chain Reaction
The four steps of communication
Indirect communication: reading between the lines
Belonging: workplace adaptations vs. conformity vs. teamwork and networking
The office hierarchy, friendships, romantic relationships, bullying, and more
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About the author
Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP, is the founder of Social Thinking®, CEO of Think Social Publishing, Inc., and a globally recognized thought leader, author, speaker, and social-cognitive therapist. She is dedicated to helping people of all ages develop social emotional learning, including those with social learning differences. Across her 35+ year career she has created numerous evidence-based and evidence informed-strategies and teaching frameworks. Michelle's work also teaches how social competencies impact overall well-being, including one’s ability to foster relationships and their academic and career performance. She and her team continually update the Social Thinking® Methodology based on the latest research and insights they learn from their clients. She was honored to receive a Congressional Special Recognition Award in 2008, and a Lectureship Award (2019) from the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatricians.
Pamela Crooke, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Chief Operations Officer and Head of Training, Curriculum, and Research at Think Social Publishing, Inc. She served as a clinical faculty member of three universities and worked as a speech-language pathologist in the Arizona public schools for 15 years. Pam is a prolific speaker both in North America and abroad and has co-authored five award-winning books related to Social Thinking with Michelle Garcia Winner. Their book, You Are a Social Detective! 2nd Edition (2020), won the 2021 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award, the 2021 Mom's Choice Gold Medal Award, the 2021 Best Book Awards Finalist, and the 2022 International Book Awards Finalist. They co-authored the companion You Are a Social Detective! Teaching Curriculum and Support Guide, (2022). She and Michelle collaborate on writing articles and blogs that appear on the Social Thinking website and in a wide array of publications. Her current research focuses on using practice-based research to examine how professionals and parents use frameworks and strategies within the Social Thinking® Methodology.
