In social life, we sometimes feel nervous to interact with others. This often happens in social situations which is usually caused by fear and embarrassment of getting a negative response from others. Some of the problems that often occur are: feeling afraid to start interactions with new people; feeling confused to choose which is the right time to talk and what we should say to participate in a conversation; and facing situations when we try to step out of our comfort zone without feeling awkward. This often makes us hesitate when we want to chat with others.
This issue certainly can be overcome. In this article, we will explore some strategies and tips that can help to overcome some of the problems of social interaction. With a better understanding about this issue and some strategies and tips for dealing with this. Hopefully, we can feel more comfortable in interacting with others and improving our communication skills.
1. Often Feel Afraid to Start Conversations with New People
Feeling afraid to start conversations with new people can happen because you are not used to having conversations. This situation is common because not use to doing conversations with others. Build mental toughness with positive thinking, controlling anxiety, and visualization. In addition, try to build self-confidence by preparing ourselves before interacting with others. For example, learning about the topics to be discussed or preparing questions to ask. Next, try to initiate interacting with the closest people like family or friends. Once we feel comfortable interacting with the people closest to us. The next step is upgrading ourselves to dare to initiate conversations with new people. However, it is important to pay attention to the situation before starting to talk to someone. Maybe at that time, that person does not want to be disturbed, either the situation is not possible or they are not in a good mood. If forced, the conversation may offend one or both parties. Therefore, we need to pay attention to the conditions at the time so the conversation can run well and smoothly.
2. Feeling Confused about When to Speak and What Topics to Talk About.
We often feel confused about when to start conversations. Then we need to say something, but because we are thinking too much, the timing is not good again. Moreover, when we want to join in a conversation, we do not have many topics to discuss. Something we can do is read many books or news articles and find facts around us. The knowledge that we have can help us interact with others. The most important thing is to be brave and try to join in a conversation. With the knowledge that we have, it is more easy to get attention while talking to others.
3. Try to Step Out from Our Comfort Zone to Join in a Conversation Without Feeling Awkward.
To join in a conversation, we occasionally need to try to step out of our comfort zone. However, sometimes awkward situations occur. To avoid an awkward situation In a conversation, we need to pay attention to the right way of delivery, such as the right intonation while expressing opinions and good management of emotions in responding to others. In addition, the same direction of conversation is one of the keys to avoiding awkwardness in conversation. Furthermore, it is better not to forcefully look for opportunities to talk about what we already think in our minds. Just pay attention to the conversation and go with the flow with the conversation. Later, when there is a moment to say something spontaneously, do not hesitate to say it clearly. Also, make your voice heard clearly by others so that they can respond and avoid awkward situations.
Keep in mind that building strong relationships with others takes time and consistent effort. Train ourselves often to fight our anxiety and start communicating with others. The most important thing is to have the courage to try. Start with a smile, say hello, and then start with a simple conversation. By applying some of the tips above, it is hoped that we can reduce social anxiety when interacting with others and improving communication skills.
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