Leadership and soft skills

Saudi professionals demonstrating interpersonal skills as they greet each other with a friendly handshake in a modern office setting.

28.02.2026

The art of dealing with people: Your comprehensive guide to mastering social intelligence and winning hearts

The golden rules of the art of dealing: When Islamic ethics meets psychology The first rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." From a legal and psychological perspective, this rule is the cornerstone of any healthy human relationship. From a Sharia perspective, the Prophet (peace be upon him) says: "None of you believes until you love your brother as you love yourself." This is a clear directive to be unselfish and to put yourself in the other person's shoes. The application of this rule does not only mean stopping harm, but also initiating acts of kindness. Psychologically, this is called Reciprocity; humans have an innate tendency to reciprocate behavior. If you start with respect, you'll get respect, and if you start with disregard, you'll get disregard. The secret lies in goodwill; people have an emotional "radar" that senses whether your kindness comes from a sincere heart or is just flattery for the sake of flattery, and only sincere dealings are long-lasting. Emotional intelligence in dealing: You can't successfully manage your relationships with others unless you are able to manage yourself. Emotional intelligence starts with self-awareness; that is, knowing your weaknesses, what makes you angry, and how to control your reactions before you say something you will regret. It is very important to distinguish between two concepts that many people confuse: "courtesy" (or social hypocrisy) and "politeness". The vilified courtesy [...]

A person attending an interview while considering the importance of first impressions

28.02.2026

First impression: How to turn heads and gain trust in 7 seconds (Secrets of Psychology)

Have you ever wondered: What will people say about me after our first meeting? Do you feel your heart racing before walking into a crucial job interview? Or do you feel anxious and nervous before a "legal vision" or meeting an important person for the first time? This feeling of uncertainty is a common human experience that we all go through. We always wonder: "Did I look right?", "Did I sound confident enough?", or "Did I make a good impression or did they forget me as soon as I walked out the door?" The scientific truth can be a little scary: Studies from Princeton University suggest that people make judgments about you in a tenth of a second (100 milliseconds), while other studies suggest 7 seconds. Yes, before you've even had a chance to introduce yourself, the other party has already made a mental picture of your intelligence, credibility, and personality. But don't worry. This article is not here to make you more nervous, but to give you control. Through this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into the depths of psychology to reveal the hidden mechanisms that govern first impressions. You'll learn how to use body language, tone of voice, and appearance to your advantage, and how to turn those first moments into a golden opportunity to build strong and successful relationships, both in your professional and social life in the Kingdom. What is a first impression? How does modern psychology explain it? How does your brain form your first impression of others? First impressions [...]