Nunchi (Korean): the subtle art of listening and gauging another’s mood. In Western culture, nunchi could be described as the concept of emotional intelligence. Knowing what to say or do, or what not to say or do, in a given situation. A socially clumsy person can be described as ‘nunchi eoptta’, meaning “absent of nunchi”
Some people call this a soft skills, but it is perhaps the most difficult of all to master. In mastering it you must tap into your own sense of self. Nunchi only works if you are authentic and sincere.
Strengths fed
- VIA character strengths of Social Intelligence, Love, Honesty, Spirituality, Kindness, Prudence and Gratitude.
- Strengths of competence through your Relating, Discovering and Caring talents.
Where you go with it is up to you, but it can serve you in business and personal endevors enriching your relationships with others.
Want to grow your Nunchi?
- Read: Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.
Watch some great Ted Talks
Neuroscientist Uri Hasson researches the basis of human communication, and experiments from his lab reveal that even across different languages, our brains show similar activity, or become “aligned,” when we hear the same idea or story. This amazing neural mechanism allows us to transmit brain patterns, sharing memories and knowledge. “We can communicate because we have a common code that presents meaning,” Hasson says.
When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations — and that most of us don’t converse very well. Celeste Headlee has worked as a radio host for decades, and she knows the ingredients of a great conversation: Honesty, brevity, clarity and a healthy amount of listening. In this insightful talk, she shares 10 useful rules for having better conversations. “Go out, talk to people, listen to people,” she says. “And, most importantly, be prepared to be amazed.”
Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.