Introverts who want to improve how they communicate with others should not try to act like extroverts. They should learn to use the strengths of their introversion better instead. That is what Preston Ni, professor of communication at Harvard University, trainer and coach, writes about in an interesting article on the Psychology Today website. Based on his extensive experience in providing workshops and coaching for introverts, his book, Confident Communication for Introverts, recommends the following five steps to gain more confidence and communicate with minimal stress.
1. Choose a suitable environment
If possible, arrange discussions on important topics at a place you know well and where you will not be disturbed. Places that are too noisy would force both you and the other speaker to speak loudly, steal your energy and make you lose focus on your message. You should also be careful of colors that are too bright and high temperatures. Both of these factors evoke powerful emotions and weaken the ability to think.
2. Show interest in others
The easiest way to keep a conversation going is to show your interest by asking the other person questions about what he or she is interested in. Begin by asking open questions about the person who is sitting in front of you. If you feel the conversation is flagging, ask about specific circumstances of something the person has already has said It's an easy way to actively engage in conversation and not talk too much. An ideal solution for introverts.
3. Ask a for a moment of peace
During the conversation, there will be situations when you will need a little time to process the information before expressing your opinion. You can gain this time simply by asking the other party to let you think for a moment. Just say: "Please give me a moment to think about it." Do not worry, it's absolutely socially acceptable. Likewise, it is okay when you need a little break. In this case, simply excuse yourself because you have to go to the bathroom, drink some water or bring something from your office. When you come back, you'll have more energy.
4. Learn to close the conversation naturally
Are you worried how to end a conversation? Do not worry. When you are ready to end the conversation, tell the other party that you will have to leave after you answer the question he just asked. That will mentally prepare your partner for the fact that it is necessary to summarize the conversation and say goodbye.
If you are interested in learning more about introverts, we recommend starting by getting to know the "quiet revolutionary" Susan Cain in our previous articles Being an introvert is not a handicap and Do you really know who is introvert and extrovert?. If you have introverts in your team, read How to manage introverts better.
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