How To Deal With Your Shyness At Work?

Difficulty expressing yourself in front of a stranger, inability to speak in front of a group, sweating, stammering, blushing, shortness of breath, wanting to go unnoticed … Shyness, whether in personal or professional life, can be more or less strong , depending on the person and the situation, and is therefore more or less easy to manage. According to a Stanford University study of 5,000 people, 80% of them say they are or have been shy. Shyness can be a real handicap and can prevent us from seizing certain opportunities, but overcoming it is possible.

Introversion and shyness

Often introversion and shyness go hand in hand , but they are two different personality traits. An introverted person does not really enjoy social situations but does not feel stress or discomfort in these cases. She needs to spend time alone to recharge her batteries. A shy person is insecure and not relaxed in a large group of people (or even around a single person), especially when they are unfamiliar to them.

Shyness can be an asset

Shy people take more time to think and organize their thoughts. A study on the knowledge of American students showed that the timid mastered better than the other 19 subjects out of the 20 proposed. Their listening skills and empathy are greatly appreciated. They are also observers, and better analyze emotions. Their discretion means that they are seen as reliable people who can be trusted and sought advice in the event of a problem. Being shy can therefore sometimes be an asset.

Overcome your shyness

Overcoming your shyness is not easy, it takes time and above all requires being ready. There isn’t just one way to do it. Here are some tips that can help overcome your shyness:

    • Caring less about what people think or say (at best: ignore)
    • Do not worry about the gaze of others
    • Stay yourself
    • Talk slowly
    • Breathe properly
    • Gain self-confidence
    • Thinking about the positive things you have accomplished in your life
    • Knowing how to stay calm to objectively perceive things
    • Remember that others are also human beings
    • Remember that no one is perfect
    • Knowing how to be proud of yourself and your work
    • Practice a team sport
    • Undergo psychotherapy
    • Surround yourself with sociable, extroverted people to motivate yourself
    • Decide to overcome her shyness, rather than let her dominate us
  • Challenge yourself on a daily basis (asking for information from an unknown person for example)

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