Let’s face it, most jobs involve some level of interaction with customers, colleagues, or partners. Whether you're collaborating with your team, attending meetings, or simply making small talk in the break room, how you handle these social situations can have a big impact on your relationships, performance, and even your reviews.
While developing comfort and confidence in social settings is a skill that can be cultivated over time, it presents unique opportunities for both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals to connect and support one another. Every interaction offers a chance for growth and mutual understanding.
With innovative tools, strategic preparation, and practice, we can enhance our ability to engage effectively with colleagues, recognizing that social interactions are a shared journey. This approach fosters stronger connections and opens doors to new opportunities, meeting each person where they are.
Social scripting can help build confidence in workplace interactions.What is social scripting?
Social scripting is the practice of establishing behavior patterns for interacting with others. These mental maps help us navigate situations by suggesting expected behaviors, actions, and responses. Social scripts can reduce anxiety and build confidence in what to say or do.
Some examples of social scripts in the workplace include:
- Making small talk with coworkers
- Participating in one-on-one or group meetings
- Handling compliments or criticism
How Copilot Chat can help with social scripting
Like many neurodivergent folks, I find that certain types of social interactions drain my batteries or trigger an avoidance response more than others. Fortunately, Copilot Chat can simplify these interactions by breaking them down into manageable elements, providing context for in-person or meeting interactions, and offering practice conversations to build familiarity and confidence. Here’s how:
Clarifying implicit social rules
Social scripts can be learned from observing family members, peers, and even popular culture. They span basic interactions to more complex dynamics, and they shift along with changes in societal norms. While many people process social cues intuitively, neurodivergent individuals may find unspoken rules more complex. Copilot can assist by clarifying these social cues and providing guidance. For example:
- Breaking down social interactions: Copilot can take something as simple as greeting a colleague in the café and break it down into clear steps – what to say, how to say it, and even tips on body language and tone.
- Providing context: Ever wonder why the weather is such a common topic in small talk? Copilot can help explain the why behind certain conversational norms such as topics and tone, so you don’t just learn what to say, but also why it works in context.
Here are some related prompts to try:
What are some good "small talk" topics I can prepare for my team's next happy hour? I'd like to avoid politics and sports.
What are some ways I can gracefully exit a conversation at a work networking event?
Role-playing and simulation
When it comes to social interactions, there’s no substitute for practice. But replicating real-life scenarios in a safe and supportive way can be tricky. Here’s how Copilot can help:
- Practice conversations: You can simulate realistic workplace dialogues, like navigating a one-on-one with your manager or jumping into a group meeting. Copilot can create different scenarios, giving you the chance to rehearse responses and refine your approach.
- Dynamic feedback: As you role-play, Copilot offers real-time suggestions to help fine-tune your tone and phrasing. For instance, do you need to practice how to ask for feedback? Copilot can provide coaching on how to make your request less stressful and more effective.
Related prompts:
I'd like help preparing for my annual review with my manager next month. I want to bring up the topic of my promotion, but I'm a little anxious about it. Provide some ideas of how I can start the conversation and some simulated dialogue?
I have a meeting with my colleague Deepti in two days. Provide some questions and discussion points? My goal is to get help with budgeting my time on the community management project.
Real-time prompts and coaching
Imagine you’re in a meeting and, suddenly, you’re not sure how to respond. No worries! With Copilot’s real-time assistance, you’ll have a discreet assistant offering suggestions as things unfold.
- Contextual cues: If you’re taking time to process what’s being said in a meeting or an unexpected distraction pops up during a discussion, you can ask Copilot to recap what’s been discussed so far and if you’ve been mentioned in the discussion.
- Meaningful interventions: Want to contribute follow-up questions or get clarity on what’s been said so far in a meeting? Ask Copilot in Teams for real-time suggestions on what you can ask or for an analysis of what’s been discussed.
Related prompts:
Recap what’s been discussed so far and inform me if I’ve been mentioned. Have any asks been made of me?
Provide feedback on how my portion of the presentation was received? How effectively did I present on the topic of our new editorial calendar and process for publishing new blogs?
Provide key takeaways from what Jeff has shared so far in this discussion. Help me draft some follow-up questions for Jeff based on what we’ve discussed so far in this meeting. I’d like to focus on questions that drive clarity and ensure that we walk away from this meeting on the same page about our next steps.
Customized communication templates
Workplace communication can sometimes feel like it follows a script. Whether it’s sending an email, preparing for a meeting, or crafting feedback, you can lean on Copilot to make sure your communication is spot-on.
- Generate custom templates: Copilot can create tailored templates for all sorts of workplace interactions such as drafting emails, structuring meetings, and requesting and providing feedback. Copilot will help ensure you’ve got the right approach for every situation.
- Adapt to different audiences: Every audience has its own vibe. Copilot can help you adapt your message, so whether you’re speaking to a small team or a larger group, you’ll always hit the right note.
Related prompts:
Create an email template I can use to request stakeholders provide a status update on their deliverables by the end of this Friday? Make the tone friendly but assertive, as I want them to understand it's important to keep the project moving.
I'd like to create business connections with some of my colleagues. Help me draft an intro email for a person I'd like to work with? Include info about who I am and the projects I work on. Include open-ended questions for my colleague and suggest that we meet soon to elaborate on our work assignments. Make it professional and friendly but not too enthusiastic. I'm shy and I don't want my email to be too bold.
Create precision questions about the discussion in my last team meeting that emphasize learning over criticizing in their tone? I'm curious about work projects but I don't want people to think I'm critical of their ideas.
Data-driven insights
Sometimes, we don’t realize our communication habits until they’re pointed out. Copilot can help identify patterns in communications and suggest areas for improvement.
- Spotting communication pitfalls: If your emails tend to come off too direct, Copilot will flag it and suggest ways to soften your approach.
- Identifying winning strategies: Copilot can highlight communication patterns that have led to positive outcomes in the past or are likely to lead to the specific outcomes you are looking for. This can help you connect effectively with anyone.
Related prompts:
Review my emails from the past three weeks and suggest ways to make my communications clearer and more action-oriented.
I need to draft an email to Giovanna, a colleague I have never engaged with before. I need to introduce myself and request a meeting so we can discuss the project timeline and dependencies. Help me draft an email with a professional and friendly tone.
I just met with my manager about the next steps in my career. Provide coaching on how I conducted this meeting: [insert Teams meeting or transcript file].
Copilot and social scripting – tools that help build confidence and team cohesion
Navigating social situations at work can be challenging regardless of your neurotype. However, the right prompts and AI tools can help you prepare, practice, and refine your social scripts. By fostering meaningful conversations, offering actionable feedback, and building confidence, Copilot helps you shine in every social interaction.
Give these tips a try, and don’t forget to share your experiences in the comments! If you’ve discovered any neurodivergent-friendly Copilot prompts that have worked for you, let’s swap ideas so we can all embrace our strengths and succeed together!
