You are SO awkward. They don't ACTUALLY like you. You're just gonna make a fool of yourself. Besides, you know you're going to be in your head the whole time. Just tell them you're sick and save everyone the trouble... A certain degree of social anxiety is completely normal--even helpful. The fear of rejection or…
Networking
Networking—one of those words that gets tossed around constantly. Some are professionals at it, and for others, it can cause instant cringing. I fall into the latter camp. Despite how much the idea of having to walk up to people I don’t know and convince them that I am interesting…
“Wow, I can’t wait to walk into that room full of people I don’t know!” How many times have you heard that line? Probably never. It’s perfectly natural to feel some angst and hesitation when attending a meeting, event, conference, or even a social gathering where there’s a good chance…
I’ve found that some of the most awkward “new situations” are business networking events. For many, the challenge is not in understanding the strategies and tactics for effective networking (those are only a few clicks a way on the Internet), but simply getting the courage to go up and introduce…
Isn’t it fun to pass out business cards and talk to strangers? I’m kidding, of course. Breaking into conversations makes me feel extremely intrusive. The fear of not relating to the group, not impressing them, or just fumbling over my words are my common expectations for networking events. The problem…
Some level of social anxiety is normal. But there’s a difference between wanting to be accepted and fearing rejection so much that you avoid any place you think you might be judged. Social anxiety becomes a problem when it’s so intense that it prevents you from enjoying your social lifeSocial anxiety disorder. In:…