Have you ever wondered why making and keeping friends can suddenly become so hard when you enter your teen years?

When you were a kid, if you wanted to play with someone, it was as easy as approaching them, offering to share a toy, and immediately getting to the fun stuff.

Now, self-consciousness filters your every move, and millions of thoughts run through your head every time you see someone new and want to go up to them.

Will they be open to friendship? Will they look annoyed or worse yet, tell you to buzz off? What if they're part of a group that doesn't want you to hang out with them?

Think of the term "sociable teen" and the most popular kid in school probably pops into your head.

You know who they are-the one who everyone wants to be around, the kid who gets invited to all the parties, the one whom you never see alone. Why can't this be you?

Here's the good news: It can.

The one thing social kids have in common is that they've mastered a key set of social skills-and anybody can use these skills to their best advantage.

This book will show you how easy it is to meet new people, build solid friendships, and express who you are when you're interacting with other teens and adults in your life.

You may be surprised to discover that to build meaningful relationships with others, you don't need to change who you are.

In fact, authenticity is a characteristic that everyone can relate to and is attracted to.

Within this comprehensive guide, you will find a companion, mentor, and adviser who will lead you through all major social situations and help you emerge triumphant.

Inside you will discover:

• How to work out your social style and embrace your social preferences - there is no "right way" to socialize, so embrace what works for you!
• How to build your self-awareness - successful relationships with others begin by knowing who you are and harnessing feedback to perfect key skills
• Steps to ace the communication game, harnessing verbal and non-verbal language techniques to understand and express the right messages
• How to start, deepen, and maintain great friendships - and be open to expanding your social network
• How you can make the most of social media, fostering real connections and minimizing the negative impacts of comparison
• How to handle conflict and rejection and see them as shining opportunities to understand yourself and others better and build healthier connections
• The power of persuasion - develop an influential voice and discover the secret of persuasive speakers and digital creators
• How to hone your emotional intelligence - be the captain of your emotions and discover how far empathy can take you in your relationships with others
• Ways to sharpen your leadership skills, be part of a peer mentoring program, and expand your influence beyond your immediate circle

And more.

Your teen years are not just something you have to "suffer through."

Nor do you have to be an extrovert to be a happy, well-adjusted teen with a healthy social circle.

Influential teens with strong leadership skills are not "born"; they're made. And you can be self-made with this comprehensive guide in your hands.