Psychology Today reports that “You’re not alone in shunning center stage—shyness and social anxiety are as natural as breathing. But doing advance prep for a party or taking small social risks can lead to breakthroughs in confidence. Here’s how to relish even the brightest of spotlights.” in this article
I find that a lot of this advice really has helped me perform better in job interviews and when giving high pressure presentations to large audiences. I am a fan of the technique of “throwing oneself into a situation”.
- Are you uncomfortable giving presentations? Volunteer to do a small one and prepare for it extremely well.
- Do you hate making small talk with strangers? Go to parties where you will only know the host.
- Do you get tongue tied during interviews? Have a friend ask you practice questions in advance.
Really – it isn’t that bad. Yes, it can stress you out, but if you look at it differently – as an opportunity to gain experience that will only last a certain predefined amount of time you can get through it. Once you get through it once, the second time isn’t so bad. Lather, rinse, repeat. Once you do something three or more times it becomes second nature and is on its way to becoming a habit.
One key strategy that I’ve employed is to really work at making the other person feel comfortable. You aren’t the only one who dreads these types of situations. Complement a pretty dress or unique piece of jewelry. Poke fun at a common acquaintance (Don’t be cruel though). Self deprecating humor tends to work pretty well too.
