I hope I can relax anywhere, and can make more friends.I find some social skills which are very useful. I think If I try to do something, I can do it well.
Learning by observation is also important
You have to directly practice skills like making conversation. While you're around people, you also can't help but take in what everyone is else doing and incorporate some of the ideas you pick up into yourself. This goes for learning positive new things to do, but also what to avoid. It's good to be open to learning from anyone. Sometimes you may not be crazy about a person on the whole, but you could still pick up some good isolated skills from them.
Like with direct practice, this process is gradual. You won't change overnight just from watching people, but eventually the benefits will pile up. It's another reason to simply spend more time in social situations. At times the observation process is conscious and deliberate, like you'll notice someone has an effective way of introducing themselves, and decide to do the same thing. Just as often, it all happens automatically. As you hang around people enough, certain traits of theirs will rub off on you without you noticing it's happening.
Through your day-to-day life
Unless you're really isolated, you'll find yourself in several social situations each day. You'll run into people you know. You'll have to talk to classmates, customers, or coworkers. You may hang out with friends or your partner. These are all good practice opportunities, especially if you view them that way and consciously try to get something out of them, instead of just doing what you always do without thinking too much about it.And if you can just find a way to put yourself in these situations a little more, than you can get more practice time in. Try to make a little more small talk than normal with the people at your job, or start having lunch with them if you don't already. Hang out with your friends for a little longer. If you normally hold back in conversations, try to take part more. Without getting too caught up in over-analysis, purposefully pay attention to what you're doing, and to what works and what doesn't.
Get a job that involves socializing
You can get a lot of practice from having a part-time job that forces you to generally be sociable, or to learn and apply specific skills. Another benefit is that the position may have a lot of other people around your age working there. Some examples are:- Retail - Approaching and helping customers in person, learning to be pleasant and friendly.
- Being a waiter - Same as above, more or less.
- Bartending - Making chit chat with customers.
- Working as a cashier - Having to make small talk with lots of people.
- Customer service over the phone - Again, general experience talking to people.
- Sales (in person or over the phone) - Learning to be personable, assertive, and persuasive, handling nerves and rejection.
- Any job where you have tons of coworkers, like a call center - Good change to meet people.
For some of these, the idea of specific vs. spill over practice comes into play. Being a charming, witty restaurant server doesn't guarantee you won't feel shy or quiet in other situations, but all that time chatting to patrons has to help at least somewhat.
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