Monday, October 29, 2012

Learning to Overcome Shyness

As a young child I was very shy. Although as I have grown older I have outgrown the need to hide behind my mother, I still find myself to be reserved especially when meeting new people. Below are some tips to help people like me overcome shyness and reach out of their comfort zone to improve interpersonal skills which are so important in today’s world.

Introduce yourself. This sounds basic but many people are afraid to take the first step. Our little shy alter-ego tells us at this point that no one wants to know our name and we should just keep quiet. I can guarantee that a big smile and a simple “my name’s blank, what’s yours” will be all you’ll need to get the ball rolling. Do it straight away because the longer you wait the harder it will be.

Don’t feel the need to qualify yourself.    
A humble but accurate description when asked is all that is needed, and if you make people feel good about themselves that’s the best social qualifier of all. We’ve all been in a situation where a new acquaintance has gone to great pains to express just how great they are. Whether it’s how fantastic their job is, how much money they have or how hot their girlfriend is, it never leaves a good impression.

Ask more, talk less. People love to talk about themselves.  Ask the questions that let them talk about their lives. And then listen with interest. Simple as that.

Remember detail. Everyone wants to feel special, and we’re all looking for someone else to give us evidence that we are. If you’ve met someone before, remembering their name and just one detail about them will be the greatest gift you can give them. For help with this check out our article How to Increase Your Ability to Remember Names.

Compliment others. I’m not suggesting you compliment someone for the sake of it, but if you genuinely like something then go ahead and tell them! Everyone loves a compliment, they start conversations and they give people confidence.

Think of others. When in social situations stop thinking about yourself and think about the other people there. If someone wants to join your conversation then make it easy for them. Help the host with serving or clearing away. Introduce people to one another. In short, get out of your own head and make sure others are having a good time.

http://zenhabits.net/eight-essential-tips-to-overcoming-shyness-and-making-a-good-impression/


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