Coming out of your quiet shell

Being an introvert can be challenging, especially when you have to interact with people or meet in social setups.

Sometimes introverts are confused as antisocial but far from it, they wish to be part of social gatherings, they just don’t know how to.

So how can an introvert get around this challenge?

Be active in group chats: If you can’t interact with people physically, the least you can do is be active in group chats. Poke your colleagues and friends once in a while and actively participate in conversations. This might actually compensate for your silence around them.

Always greet people: If you believe people think you are antisocial then maybe, it’s time to change that. You can be the first to greet your colleagues when you get to the office or at social gatherings, a simple hello goes a long way than simply ignoring everyone.

Plan conversations ahead of time: If talking to people is not your strength, plan the conversations before you meet them. Think about how much you want to say, it doesn’t have to be a whole conversation but just enough small talk to make people comfortable around you.

Befriend one extrovert: Being quiet will only be worsened by surrounding yourself with other quiet people. If you are an introvert, at least ensure one of your friends is an extrovert. This will help you camouflage since most people will assume you are chatty and they will always keep you informed.

Attend social functions: You may have nothing in common with your colleagues and friends but at least make an effort of attending social functions with them. You might not do much at the events, but at least they will see you are making an effort to be around them. You never know maybe this might help you come out of your shell.

Chat with strangers: In order to be more accommodating around people you need practice and what better way than to try it with people who don’t know you? It could be with your hair dresser, barber or vegetable vendor, chat them up and talk about anything, with time you will find yourself getting comfortable around people.

Seek help from a professional: If being an introvert is not something you like, maybe you need to talk to someone that can help you get out of your comfort zone. Some people keep to themselves because they have low self-esteem from past traumatic experiences that should be explored by a professional to help you navigate around it.