CHECK OUT MY RECENTLY PUBLISHED PAPERS:
Exploring The Possibility Of An Elimination Algorithm as the Basis for Human Intuition: A Study of a Successful Expert System for Eye Disease Diagnosis
Unlocking The Science Of Emotions Through Pattern Recognition: Establishing Emotions As A Proper Field Of Study
Small talk tips for introverts – Key Tip: Leave small talk to extroverts. They enjoy an unfair superiority in the competitive social arena. They are streets ahead in establishing relationships through their ability to drop a few nice words to a sales clerk, share jokes with the dentist's receptionist, or manage the light banter which subtly reveals the interests of a customer at a party.
The introverts, who lack such inherited bonhomie, will only look awkward if they try to imitate the extroverts. Instead of imitation, they should choose to be acknowledged as amiable introverts. They should benefit from the advantages of a reticent nature, while learning to profit from customer perceptions of the strengths behind their own reticence.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
Are You Born With A Talent For Small Talk?
It
is futile to imitate inherited talents. For extroverts, small talk
is an effortless and fun pastime. Their intellects thrive on it.
They are interested in people. They remember volumes of trivia.
They recall vast libraries of minutiae, including local gossip,
family relationships, health issues and sports interests of the
people they meet. Their interests in these subjects make them enjoy
company – the more, the merrier.
Extroverts toss out
appropriate comments in the company of strangers in the hope of
turning one of them into a common point of interest. They respond
fast, adding a quick succession of repartees to what has been said.
Their social lubrication keeps the conversational ball rolling,
rewarding them with a feeling of satisfaction. This potential grants
extroverts added focus and energy.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
What Is Reward Oriented Behavior?
Extroverts
have a built in advantage. In social gatherings, a reward oriented
neural subsystem continually varies the human energy, which controls
inspiration and enthusiasm. Professor Wolfram Schultz
discovered that reward oriented behavior is promoted by the release
of a group of neurotransmitters by neurons in the early reptilian
(approach or withdraw) part of the human brain.
When these neurons
detect signals of the possibility of a reward within a specific time
frame, they release dopamine in the forebrain. Increased dopamine
intensifies forebrain activity, bringing clarity to objectives,
making the mind feel more energetic and elated. But, it is
not the reward of social goodwill, but the expectation of it, which
releases dopamine.
Schultz noted that the release increases, if the
reward is greater than what is expected. It continues only for the
predicted time period, when a reward can be expected. The release
reduces at the end of this period. The releases stop if the rewards
have become a matter of routine. Even crossing a street is a
sufficiently rewarding objective, to increases the focus and
attention of the mind. The extrovert anticipates the certain rewards
of goodwill at a social gathering. They thrive in company.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts –
Have You Any Idea What Your Next Words Will Be?
The
extrovert joins a party with a massive database of trivia, including
social history, anecdotes and snappy answers. From this vast
database, within milliseconds after someone finishes speaking, the
extrovert's mind selects an appropriate idea, formulates a witty
response, paraphrases it into a sentence, selects the right words
from a vocabulary of thousands of words and places them in
grammatical order.
Then the extrovert's systems initiates motor
impulses to control the timing and tenor of the delivered speech.
All these things happen before you can say “wow!” On
the other hand, the introvert approaches social gatherings with a
sense of discomfort and a database bare of social trivia. The
emotional triggers of speech remain inhibited with negativity. He
has no conscious control over his verbal communications.
Those
systems require lightning speed to deliver a reasonable reply to a
casual question. He just cannot “will himself” to be outgoing
and talkative. If the introvert is tongue tied, it is because,
without his permission, those mechanisms have decided to remain
silent. Even a conscious effort to speak will not overcome the lack
access to an appropriate idea in his memory.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
What Are The Hurdles To Small Talk?
While the introvert may be focused and energetic in the pursuit
of his career, his responses slow down in company. Being unable to
share common jokes and comments, he feels tongue tied and awkward.
His life experiences have not assembled the profusion of casual
observations, which enable the extrovert to revel in small talk. His
brain does not provide focus and energy for quick exchanges. He
hesitates as he struggles to think out suitable answers to trivial
questions.
Instead of waiting for responses, most people
will just go ahead and ask or say something else. The introvert, who
was probably just about to answer the earlier question, is forced to
abandon his present line of thought and follow the new thread of the
ongoing conversation. While introverts feel apologetic about their
slow witted responses, their listeners feel disconcerted by the
peculiar silences, which precede their solemn answers. In the end,
introverts distance themselves and consider the breakneck trail of
questions and answers to be shallow and pointless.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
What Is The Wet Blanket Effect?
The
introverts have a natural distaste for small talk. This has an
unpleasant side effect. People come to think that they are socially
inept or snobby. They imagine them turning up their noses on social
chatter, which is widely believed to be at the core of “normal”
culture. People assume that they don’t like chit-chat because
they don’t like them. Habitual failure to communicate with cheer
causes the introvert to fear that his tension will "spoil"
the party.
Tension adds more problems. People usually
become uncomfortable when they sense tension. They have mirror
neurons, which “mirror” the behavior of others in company. Those
neurons support the generation of identical emotions within a group –
herd behavior. Tension in one animal is conveyed quickly throughout
the herd. It is a survival mechanism. So, effectively, the tensions
of a self critical introvert will also transmit to the group, and
lower spirits all round.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
Is Reticence A Comfortable Starting Point?
But,
attendance at social gatherings may be necessary. Instead of
desperately searching for things to say, the introvert should aim to
just be comfortable at parties. The tension, which causes an
introvert to become a “wet blanket” can be easily stilled. The
mind control tips in this website suggest ways to still tension
through simple mechanical exercises. She can learn to instantly relax
her muscles and to still her mortifying visceral responses.
She
can learn to quiet the habitual instincts, which cause her tension in
company. The nagging self talk, which builds inner turmoil, can be
stilled. A calm mind will recognize the thoughtless opinions of
others as being irrelevant. The introvert should become a comfortable
listener, leaving the extroverts to enjoy a “great party.” The
same comfort will eliminate the wet blanket effect and contribute
positively to the spirit of the party.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
Can You Have Pleasant Expectations About A Party?
The
introvert has chosen to attend the party, because social, or career
needs require his presence. While longing, like Professor Higgins, for
the “peace and quiet of an undiscovered tomb,” the introvert has
become comfortable in company. His very reticence can work to his
benefit, if he views social gatherings as a necessary evil.
Acceptance of this necessity can still his inner dissatisfaction.
Instead of dreading the party, the introvert now accepts it as a
social need, or as a necessary step to achieve his goals. Acceptance
of the inevitable further stills negative emotions. The
introvert need not make an effort to produce small talk. Lacking the
vast store of social trivia, the objective of the introvert should be
to become a silent, but amiable listener to the exchanges.
Having
learned the art of relaxation, his body is completely relaxed.
Acceptance and relaxation bring stillness. He can gain added focus
and energy, if he expects to benefit through increased goodwill, or
useful insights from the social gathering. That may, or may not
happen.
Small Talk Tips For
Introverts
Who Loves A Genial Listener?
In
the company of extroverts, a solemn presence can dampen spirits. The
extrovert can avoid this pitfall by becoming a genial listener. All
that is needed is to smile expectantly at a stranger, leaving him to
take the initiative in talking. Social gatherings thrive on shared
positive emotions and trivial interactions.
The appearance of
comfortable enjoyment removes the anxieties of the host. The
objective is to share bonhomie and not to transmit profound
knowledge. With warmth, your pleasant smiles or murmurs to flippant
comments can encourage others to talk. If the stranger is an
extrovert, he will keep the ball rolling, with minimum contributions
from you. You will have gained goodwill.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
Who Delivers Insults & Put Downs?
Unfortunately,
parties also sustain a large supply of insults and put downs. There
are people who actively seek the discomfiture of others. Remember
that those who enjoy insulting bare acquaintances have serious
problems of their own. Never regret your inability to come up with
sharp rejoinders.
Accept the inevitable judgment of
extroverts that you are a “bore.” Continue the mood of friendly
expectations. You will leave behind a perplexed individual, who may
even carry away goodwill for you. If you land in the company of
other introverts, you can share share deeper ideas, or enjoy sharing
their silences. Your objective is is to be relaxed and comfortable,
while expecting to be informed or entertained.
Small
Talk Tips For Introverts
Can You Afford To Bypass Socializing?
The
introvert can avoid social burnout by choosing careers, where
socializing is not paramount. When individual performance, rather
than social skills, determines career growth, the introvert has no
need to present a dishonest, or embellished front. You can't become
someone you are not. Constantly forcing yourself to mingle,
chit-chat and cold-call will trigger stress, which can take years off
your life.
When your career success is more dependent on the
quality of your work than on social skills, you will have fewer
worries. When your presence at social gatherings is not important
for your career, you can choose to decline invitations to join
convivial evenings, dinners, or parties and reduce the strain of
enduring trivial social exchanges. If you do decide to attend, you
could land up a little later and leave earlier. Such responses become
easier when you have acknowledged your nature and feel at peace with
yourself.
Small Talk Tips For
Introverts
Does The Introvert Have Any Advantages?
While
the extrovert may be good at getting a toe into the door, most
businesses require long and enduring relationships. The subtle
manipulation, which induces customers to buy, comes easily to
extroverts. But, the forceful approach, which pounds away and
oversells a product often repels customers, who wish to make informed
decisions.
Introverts better understand and respect the need for
space and thinking time. They are better at grasping body language
clues which show when a person shutting down or glazing over. An
introvert needs to accept that he is short of small talk, quiet, slow
to sell himself and unwilling to party. Then, he is less likely to
feel a need to sound right all of the time. He is unlikely to live
off fly-by-night propositions.
The introvert will not manipulate words or
thoughts into the other person's mouth. He will focus on delivering
services rather than on making contacts. He listens to customer
concerns, answers their queries, services their problems and helps
them to make wise choices. This builds enduring relationships. At
parties, customers make value judgments of whether they wish to enter
into long term relationships. A quiet strength may often be
preferred to easy going affability. A lack of small talk can also be
a career advantage.