Do any of the following happen to you when you meet a new person for the first time: your palms start to sweat, you can't think of anything to say, you become self-conscious about everything you say or do, you stutter when you try to speak, you just want to curl up in a ball and hide?
If you're in a career which requires business networking or you simply want to meet new people, one factor which might hinder your success in this arena is a problem with shyness.
Luckily, being shy doesn't mean you're stuck with an incurable disease. Instead, there are ways to conquer your inhibitions and learn to come out of your socially-shy shell. We've discovered four key ways to help with the battle.
1. Stop thinking about yourself and focus on other people
If you start feeling self-conscious about yourself or analyzing how you appear when you meet a new person, try and focus your attention on your new associates instead. Who are they and what are they saying to you? What are the things you like about them? What would you like to know more about them? By switching your attention to other people, you'll help yourself forget your shyness and make yourself a more attentive person to talk to at the same time.
2. Get your mind working positively
Try these techniques to help reprogram the way you feel about yourself. Firstly visualize - imagine yourself in networking scenarios where you act calm, confident and naturally yourself. Secondly, destroy negative words or statements in your head, e.g., 'I have nothing useful to say'. Instead, repeat positive words and statements to yourself, e.g, 'I have valuable things to contribute'. By reinforcing positive thoughts and images about yourself in your mind, you'll help override the negative ones.
3. Accept Rejection
Not everyone you meet will instantly like you - the same way that you may not like every person you meet. Learn to accept this fact of life and not to take it personally if someone doesn't show the same interest in you. Instead, use the opportunity to help you become more confident because you are able to move on.
4. Learn to like yourself
If you can sit and think about the things you like the most about yourself, you're sure to discover a dozen or so reasons why other people should like you too. Focus on your strengths and you'll soon forget your weaknesses. Not a good talker? Well maybe you're a more sensitive listener. Not good at making jokes? Perhaps you're great at sharing anecdotes. Aim to be yourself - the self that you like - and you'll have nothing to be shy about.
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John Boyd
www.MeetingWave.com
www.MeetingWave.com/blog