15 Networking Tips for Overcoming Shyness

Have you ever been so shy that it's a struggle to carry on a conversation with someone? Maybe you're just not comfortable making a presentation at work, or don't know how to talk to people when you go out of your comfort zone. Here are some tips that will help you overcome your shyness and become more confident.

1) Ask good questions

Being upbeat and stimulating your conversation partner is one of the best ways of building confidence. However, leading with questions is also a great way of establishing connection. Try asking open-ended questions where they can speak freely without fear of being judged or interrupted. You can also ask questions that require them to engage their memory. This can lighten up a long, dull discussion.

2) Send mixed messages

The problem with being shy is that it's easy to send mixed signals. Sometimes you'll feel great, but other times you literally won't be able to speak. Some of the medical reasons for this are loss of voice, muscle tension and general anxiety. The way to conquer this is by trying something really simple. If you tend to feel really nervous around people, ask them to sit next to you. You can also give them a big hug or even put your arm around them and fall asleep. This will help you overcome your fear of being judged and make your body feel less tense.

3) Take small risks

Taking small risks is a way of building confidence. It will also help your body relax by exposing it to different situations that you wouldn't normally encounter. This can be anything from doing something silly for fun to volunteering for something that's never interested you before. Try your best to make the most of the experience and truly enjoy yourself. After all, if you don't enjoy it, what's the point in taking the risk?

4) Change your breathing pattern

One of the most common reasons for holding back when making a speech is that we hold our breath. This isn't actually harmful, but its one of those things that makes us feel more nervous than we should be. The trick is to associate deeper breathing with being comfortable. If you're scared of public speaking, make it a point to breathe deeply when you get on the stage. Imagine yourself being at ease and in control as you do this. Eventually, it will become second nature to breathe this way when you need courage or confidence.

5) Get exercise

Getting exercise is a great way of putting yourself at ease and feeling more confident in yourself. You might even find that you have more energy when meeting new people because of the endorphins your body releases when active. Make an effort to meet your friends often for some kind of exercise activity, even if its just walking around the block a few times or running laps in your back yard. You might also want to get in shape for a special occasion, such as your high school reunion.

6) Drink Green Tea

Green tea is known for its ability to relax the mind and body, which can help you feel calm and more confident in social situations. It's also loaded with antioxidants that can help fight off cancer, viruses and other harmful agents. If you suffer from shyness, consider drinking green tea daily to help overcome your problems. You might even find you have more energy, less stress and a better outlook on life when you do this regularly.

7) Watch the eyes

If you struggle with confidence, especially when it comes to speaking publicly, you might want to work on your eye contact skills. Look directly at the person you're speaking to and maintain that eye contact as long as it's comfortable to do so.

This will help them feel more comfortable around you and is a great way of building trust, they'll love the fact that you're paying attention to them.

If you fall off track during a presentation or speech, simply look back at the people in front of you. They'll immediately forgive you for making a mistake and know that you're working on it.

8) Meditate

Your nervous system can get all jittery when you're nervous, and a good way to find peace is by doing some meditation. This is also a great way of promoting relaxation in your body and making sure you're able to stay present while you're talking.

Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth several times.

You can also do mini breathing sessions throughout the day, only relaxing when it feels natural. This will help you to calm down when you need confidence or courage.

9) Connect with your body

If you feel as though you're always being judged or watched by other people, remember that it's your body that is experiencing this anxiety.

Once you start connecting with your mind, you can learn to relax your nervous system and enter into a state of tranquility.

You don't have to go as far as meditation to do this, but simply noticing the tension in your arms, legs and stomach can be quite comforting.

If you really want help overcoming shyness, consider trying out some yoga or other forms of body movement.

This will help you get in touch with the way that your body feels when it's under stress and will help heal any emotional trauma.

10) Take up swimming

Swimming is another great way to help you feel more comfortable, because it reduces the effects of gravity. The water will support your body and make you feel less insecure about your physical appearance.

If you're really shy, it can also help you get to know people better by making them more accessible.

Finally, being in the water allows you to take a break from everything outside of the pool without drawing too much attention to yourself.

11) Wear clothes that fit

It's a shame that some of us have to learn how to dress ourselves before we can really be confident with who we are. Still, those who wear clothes that fit their body tend to have a higher self esteem than those who don't.

This is because they're aware of how they look and feel, instead of feeling like they have to hide away because they look different than the rest.

If you feel as though you can't wear certain clothes right now, take a moment to try something on and see how it fits. You might find that you feel better about yourself when everything fits.

12) Exercise your mind

If your mind has been bogged down by shyness for too long, it will take time to heal. Making an effort to exercise your mind through writing or whatever you enjoy doing is a great way of relaxing and being at ease again. You'll probably find that your shyness will be alleviated shortly after you start writing something.

13) Talk to yourself out loud

Some people tend to get anxious when thinking about something, so instead of saying it out loud in your head, talk it out loud to someone who's on a different wavelength than you.

This way you can feel as though its easier for you to let the words come out of your mouth and will help you trust yourself more when talking.

If you do this every day or every time there's a reason for being nervous, it can really help you to overcome shyness in the long run.

14) Smile at yourself in the mirror

Do this every day and you'll notice that you feel more comfortable, more at ease and more confident in yourself. This will also help people to be more open to you, because they'll notice that you like yourself.

Smiling isn't something we do very often when we're feeling shy, but it can really help to make the transition from being nervous to being social easier. It's all about energy, so if you give off positive energy, it's bound to be returned!

15) Laugh.

Laughter is a great way of getting energy out of your system and can even help you overcome shyness as well. Consider joining a comedy club, watching comedies, playing with your pets or even doing something as simple as going to the park and laughing with your friends. This will make you feel more relaxed and give you the boost of confidence that you need in order to overcome anxiety.

Conclusion

Conquering shyness can be challenging but with a little patience and hard work, it is a malleable trait that you can change over time. You don't have to worry about being shy forever, because with the right approach, you'll be able to get back the self-confidence you need to do what makes you happy in life.