Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy - Softcover

Recent studies have shown that shyness is on the increase, and I am often asked if the reason behind this trend is due to faxes, E-mail, chat rooms, cell phones, and other electronic tools of the information age. While in many ways these devices increase our access to information, I believe they do tend to give people less of an opportunity to practice their face-to-face communication skills. And because so much of our interaction is now electronic, more than ever, people are starved for human contact. I don't know about you, but when I call a company about something, I want to talk to a real person, not a computer with a menu of options.

You might be asking yourself, is face-to-face communication as important as it used to be? Well, if you've ever been tongue-tied on a job interview, a first date, or at a holiday party, I'm sure you know the answer. Plus, even more important, I believe your ability to communicate in professional, social and personal situations define much of your self-image, confidence and level of success.

Here are three proven tips to get you started. First and foremost, show receptivity and a willingness to talk to others. Second, be interested in others in a positive way by asking questions and being an active listener. Finally, be willing to take some risks by sharing something about yourself that allows you to connect with the people you meet and talk with.

After teaching and writing about conversation skills for nearly twenty years, I know that practically anyone can learn how to be a good conversationalist. Thousands of people have told me that they wished they had learned these simple skills years ago. But even if you are still shy, don't think that it's too late for you to learn. Not long ago, a man in his eighties asked for my advice because he was tired of being shy! He improved, and so can you. You'll be amazed at how fast you can learn just by listening to my tapes, reading my books, and practicing the skills with everyone you come in contact with at work, the store, in your neighborhood--everywhere! Just think how much more confident, poised and successful you'll feel when you can walk into a roomful of strangers and strike up a conversation with anyone there.