Posted on 20 August 2018
by Issa Coultas

More people than ever before are proactively seeking training for personal and professional development. To address this need, Ron Riggio and Ryan K. Merlin developed the Social Skills Training Guide.

The Social Skills Training Guide was intended as a tool for trainers and coaches, clinicians, counselors, and HR professionals to use in the design and implementation of workshops to assess and develop clients’ social skills. The Guide includes a brief overview of the history and research from which the SSI was created, a guide to using the SSI as an assessment tool, and how to design a training program for developing social skills. The Guide is applicable for several areas including mental health, sales, public speaking, leadership, family and couples, team development, and child development.

Features of the Social Skills Training Guide

The Social Skills Training Guide sets itself apart from other coaching guides as it (a) directly relates to the SSI model and scales, (b) includes exercises that range from specific to general to provide flexibility in training methods, and (c) differentiates exercises by necessary trainer skill level (easy, moderate, and difficult). This makes the Social Skill Training Guide a powerful resource for a variety of professionals at any level of mastery.

Make no mistake; developing social skills is hard work. It takes a great deal of energy, effort, and dedication. The activities in this guide require time commitment, attention, and practice.

• Identify and introduce areas for training
• Specify skills to be practiced
• Increase participants’ knowledge
• Increase engagement in the social skills exercise
• Promote new insights, awareness, and attitude change
• Foster feedback and discussion
• Increase potential for long-term social skills enhancement
• Increase perceived value of trainer and training program

The Social Skills Training Guide also describes models useful for the training process, including the DESIRE model (Dedication, Energy, Systematic approach, Individual development, Review of the progress, Energy) of readiness for change and the SMART model (Specific/Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant/Responsible, Time-bound) for goal setting.

Learn more about the SSI on our blog! Measure Social Competence with the Social Skills Inventory

Social Skills Training Guide    SSI Individual Report    SSI Manual