The Rules to Break

RULE TO BREAK

Have something to say for yourself

Here’s something I get asked about frequently. If you’re fundamentally shy and find it hard to make friends, social occasions can be very daunting. Whether it’s talking to people generally, or specifically members of the opposite sex, or senior managers at work, it can be a terrifying prospect. What will you say? What if you dry up? Suppose you make a fool of yourself?

I have to declare upfront that this isn’t a difficulty I struggle with myself. I’ll talk to anyone, me. Some might even say I overdo it. But I have had many friends who face this problem, sometimes daily, and I’ve seen how crippling it can become.

I have also frequently watched people at social gatherings to see how they deal with ...