THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL COMPETENCE AMONG MANAGERIAL STAFF: ESSENCE, STRUCTURE, AND STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept of social competence among managerial staff, focusing on its essence, structural components, and stages of development. Social competence is defined as a complex of skills and personal qualities that enable leaders to manage interpersonal relationships, facilitate collaboration, and make effective decisions in socially dynamic environments. The paper explores key components of social competence such as empathy, social awareness, cultural sensitivity, communication skills, conflict management, and social responsibility. It also outlines the developmental stages of social competence: initial awareness, adaptation, consolidation, and leadership embodiment. Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of training, experience sharing, psychological coaching, and mentoring in fostering social competencies among leaders. These competencies are increasingly seen as crucial to enhancing leadership effectiveness and fostering a positive, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent organizational climate.