Developing Teachers' Social Competences, an Imperative of Contemporary Society

Abstract

Teachers’ social competences are an imperative of contemporary society. The article demonstrates the importance of developing teachers’ social intelligence, given the fact that social competences have a great impact on academic success. A high level of social intelligence helps teachers diffuse stress, instills feelings of efficacy, prevent isolation, and promote a positive self-image, especially in today’s rapidly changing society, which makes teaching much more demanding. The article also illustrates the interrelation between emotional, social, and cognitive competences, which help teachers deal with their emotions and establish social climates of cooperation, thus promoting positive teacher-student relationships even in challenging social interactions with students.