im a quiet person, prefers to talk when there is a need to be for example.. explaing stuff, questioning stuff.. but when the conversation turns to 'oh, hows the weather. weathers fine. it was raining yesterday.. yes it was.' etc, it kinda becomes boring to me, it lost its purpose. and people often go one big round to state their point,
ever talked to any of those mlm executives?
Haven't spoken to any mlm exec yet! Thank God!
if we were discussing say like what will our next project be, or sharing problems about our families, or even what movie we will be watching, all these have a purpose in it, it is meaningful. like this disucssion, it has meaning to me. our experience may be helpful to the person who started this topic.
but, many social gatherings ended up talking about things we might not even remember a day after, so when i was young, i often ignore such events, or people, till the point my relatives think i don't like them, well, i was young then.
Well....if you're sensitive enough.
Everyone have a heartfelt desire to share about themselves.their realself...
Some happy, some sad. Some needs a listening ear, some desires a soul mate for that moment. 
If you can and bother....why not take time to observe a person and draw out the truth from them.
It might just change your perspective of gatherings. so maybe ill do some social chit chats when i know this person is important to me, will be my help or will be around me for some time to come, like my new boss, not to the point of bootlicking, but at least there is lesser chance of being enemies.
Gaining mutual understanding and respect does helps in character building and trust between superior and you.
but honestly, i don't have exactly good social skills, we all have our flaws, i can definitely write better than talk, i can explain concepts and crap better than casual chit chats, but i do know how to back up my flaws by using and recognizing people with proper talents, such as people with good interpersonal skills, or even other talents, provided their flaws can be maintained. some people have good interpersonal skills but their personal life is a mess, disappointing, you can't trust important tasks to those people.
I admire you. Your effort onto outsourcing talents to help you will make you a natural leader.

Pen is mighter than the sword.
well, this is roughly who i really am. lol.
anyways. those lame pigs.. those people have BAD interpersonal skills and LOUSY abilities, they are just plain lazy, and they are doing a lousy job covering thme up. i can survive them, kinda used to it from young, but i will surely remember them for i will never hire such people if im in the position to do so. and hell i can remember such things. :p