So, you’ve been called shy and quiet for far too long. The truth is that it’s not your fault, but your genetics. However, there are ways of preventing you from being afraid to speak in groups or even talk to strangers. Here are 10 proven ways that will help you overcome your shyness:
1. Conquer Your Fears
You can overcome your fears by practicing new skills and facing your fears directly. For example, if you are afraid of public speaking, then sign up for a class about public speaking or join an organization that has frequent speaking engagements. If you’re terrified of rejection, ask someone out on a date or apply for a job that scares you. If being wrong terrifies you, then make mistakes and learn from them as they happen rather than waiting until the end of life to try something new.
When it comes down to it, we’re all just people who have different ways of expressing themselves—in some cases more confidently than others! As long as we stay true to ourselves and don’t let fear hold us back from living our best lives possible (which includes being open), no matter what anyone else thinks about us (or doesn’t think), then all will be well.”
2. Stop Caring What Others Think
The first step in overcoming your shyness is to stop caring so much about what others think of you.
- Don’t worry about what other people think. This is one of the best ways to overcome your shyness, because if you are worried about what people think, then it’s likely that they will notice, which will only make things worse. Furthermore, worrying about other people’s opinions can be a very unattractive trait itself!
- Don’t worry about what other people think of you and/or what you say. Just say whatever comes into your head without being concerned with how others perceive it or whether they like it or not (this includes all forms of communication including body language). If someone doesn’t like something that was said/done by another person (including yourself), then it’s their problem—not yours!
3. Work on Your Body Language
Body language is a form of nonverbal communication that can give people an impression of us before we even speak. What’s more, research shows that people are more likely to remember and hang onto something if they’ve heard it in a story versus just reading it on the page. So if you’re not a naturally gregarious person or don’t feel comfortable talking to new people, try telling yourself a story about what happened when you overcame your shyness and had the chance to socialize with someone new. This technique may be especially helpful if your shyness stems from an awkward past experience; retelling these stories will help remind you that they’re over now and they won’t happen again!
4. Find Your Voice
- Take a deep breath. Breathing deeply can help you feel calmer and more relaxed.
- Speak loud and clear. Projecting your voice will make it easier for people to hear you, no matter how soft or quiet you normally speak.
- Practice in front of a mirror. This will enable you to see what others see when they look at you—so that if there’s something about your appearance that needs fixing, like messy hair or clothes with stains on them, then it’ll be easier to fix.
- Slow down. Speaking slowly is one way of ensuring that other people understand what it is that you want them to know: It gives them time to process everything they’re hearing from your mouth! So slow down when communicating with others; don’t rush through sentences as though they were being said at normal speed (which should be around 120 words per minute).
5. Challenge Yourself to Speak Up
You can also use the same approach to help you speak up in large ways. If, for example, you’re afraid of giving presentations or talking on stage, try giving a presentation at an open mic night at your local coffee shop. You might find that it isn’t as scary as you thought it would be—and even if it is, that’s okay!
You may find that speaking up in small or large ways makes you feel uncomfortable—or proud. Even though speaking up and taking risks are hard for many people, remember: The benefits of doing so far outweigh any discomfort that comes from being bolder than usual.
6. Ask Open-Ended Questions
One of the best ways you can stop being shy and quiet is by asking open-ended questions. Open-ended questions ask for more than a yes or no answer, such as:
- “What did you think about our last meeting?”
- “How do you feel about public speaking?”
- “What would make this job better for you?”
These types of questions can help draw people out and encourage them to share their thoughts with others because it gives them an opportunity to explain themselves more fully. It also shows that what they have to say is important, which boosts their confidence and makes them feel valued by others.
7. Don’t Be Afraid To Be Weird
Don’t be afraid to be weird. Don’t be afraid to be different. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and embrace the things that make you unique, because those are the things that will help you stand out from the crowd.
People love having someone who is different in their lives, especially if they can relate with that person on some level. If your eccentricities and oddities are authentic parts of who you are, then people will appreciate them more than if they were simply put on for show or as a form of self-expression based on trends or other people’s opinions.
8. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol can make you feel less confident, self-conscious, and shy. Alcohol is a depressant and can cause many side effects for those who consume it regularly. It’s important to keep in mind that when you drink alcohol, your inhibitions decrease—so you might say things that you don’t mean or regret later on. Your confidence also decreases because of this lowered inhibition; however, this may lead to making more mistakes than usual while drinking alcohol—including saying things that are not appropriate or helpful in any way. If you’re trying to stop being quiet around strangers or new people because of shyness, then drinking should be avoided at all costs if possible because it makes the situation worse!
9. Don’t Be Overly Polite.
Being too polite can be a problem. It’s the difference between saying “Good morning” and “Good afternoon.” If you’re talking to someone who is more senior than you are, or in a group, it may seem like the right thing to do—and it might even impress them—but people generally don’t respond well when conversations feel stiff or stilted because of over-politeness.
- How to be polite without being overly polite:
A good way to avoid being overly polite is by using some of these simple phrases: “That’s an interesting idea,” instead of “That’s a great idea”; “I’m happy for you,” instead of “Congratulations”; etcetera. These phrases will show that you’re listening and open up a conversation without making people feel uncomfortable about themselves or their ideas!
10. Practice.
You can practice in a variety of ways. You can practice with friends, family, and colleagues. You can also practice in front of a mirror or camera. If you still haven’t got enough confidence to talk to an audience, start small by practicing in front of your family or friends. Once you get comfortable with that small group, then move on to practicing with strangers who don’t know you well.
If you are shy, it is difficult for you to speak up and express yourself because of fear of being rejected by others or fear of hurting someone else’s feelings if they do not agree with what you say or how you say it. But once again remember that “practice makes perfect” so keep trying until things get better for yourself!
Being shy and quiet is okay but you can overcome it.
Being shy and quiet is okay, but you can overcome it if you want to.
In my experience, being shy or quiet is not a personality trait. It’s a learned behavior that can be unlearned. Being shy or quiet doesn’t make you any less of a person than someone who isn’t; it just means that your social habits don’t match up with what society deems “normal.” Shyness is when you feel uncomfortable in social situations or around people in general—it might be because they intimidate or overwhelm you (or both), or maybe they just make you feel nervous and awkward. Being quiet can mean several things: it could mean that talking comes easily for some people but not for others (maybe the opposite for me), it may mean that we’re introverted as opposed to extroverted, etc..
Conclusion
If you’re looking to improve your social skills, these tips should help. They’re tried and tested, so give them a try.