Written by: Pia King, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Everyone is on a different point of the introvert/extrovert continuum. Highly extroverted people can seemingly barely survive without social interaction, while very introverted folks can happily go for a week without uttering a word to another soul.
However, many introverts would like to have more social interactions, but don’t know how to make that happen. Creating a social network can be a struggle for many introverts.
I think that I’m somewhere in the middle, but closer to an “extroverted-introvert”. Honestly, I can go for a week or more without having to engage with the whole social media environment, figuring out and managing the work-life balance piece or talking to anyone... Oops, I was thinking and writing out loud…
Here are 7 Strategies that I’ve learned along the way:
Introverts can create and enjoy a more active social life with these strategies:
1. Start with being an excellent listener. Half of any conversation is listening, but it’s the most important half. If you show that you’re an excellent listener, the other person in your conversation will gladly do most of the talking.
One of the easiest ways to motivate people to want to interact with you is to convince them they are the most fascinating person in the room. All you have to do is be a fantastic listener. Give the other person your full and undivided attention and you won’t have to say much at all.
2. Ask questions. Asking open-ended questions is another way to keep someone engaged in conversation without having to do a lot of work. Asking meaningful questions is one way to show that you’re a good listener and that you’re interested.
Asking someone, “What do you like about the beach?” is open-ended and encourages conversation. Asking someone, “Do you like the beach?” encourages a simple yes or no type of answer and is not open-ended.
3. Put your focus on the other person and not on yourself. When you think about yourself, it’s easy to become anxious. However, if you put all of your focus on the other person, you’ll find that your social discomfort is greatly lowered.
4. Practice your small talk skills. Small talk can be intimidating for those with more introverted personalities, but small talk is harmless chitchat. It’s not about exposing personal secrets or sharing your soul with the world.
There are thousands of books on small talk and interpersonal communication. Pick one up and get started. Everyone you see was put on Earth to be your practice dummy.
5. Find the right environment. A loud and busy environment might be too overwhelming. Choose environments that minimize your discomfort. Only you know how you feel. Do you prefer one on one? Small groups? Do what works for you.
6. Leverage your friends. Spend time with your friends and get to know their friends. Going out with a few friends can make the evening more comfortable and increase the likelihood of meeting new people.
All it takes is one very social friend to keep your social life active. Just tag along and you’ll have all the social opportunities you can stand.
7. Find hobbies that provide social opportunities. While you might prefer to sit at home and trim bonsai trees for fun, it would be better for your social life if you took a bonsai class with other people.
Use your passions to provide more social opportunities. What do you like to do and how can you do those activities with others?
Just because you consider yourself to be an introvert doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to have an active social life. Anyone that wants to be more social can certainly do so. Become an excellent listener, ask questions, and leverage your current social network.
The world is full of people that would like someone to talk to. You can be that someone.
Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit Your Whole Life Financial Services or MSW Life for more info!
Pia King, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
When human beings experience trauma or significant life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to begin to unravel. Her greatest passion is bringing healing to people who have been through traumatic/stressful experiences. She believes that the “Almighty can not reach us in a spirit of fear”. She works with her clients, who include youth, adults, and families, to find healthy coping skills and strengthen their self-esteem.
She knows that no single approach is the right one for every individual, and so she has been trained in a range of modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Stress Management Therapy (SMT), Energy Healing, and Aromatherapy.
Her educational background includes a BA in Mass Communication and a Master of Social Work from Howard University in Washington, DC. She is currently working on her Doctoral degree in Theocentric Psychology/Metaphysical Science at the University of Sedona.
She is a licensed social worker with a concentration in financial and special needs health care services. As a case manager serving the Special Needs community, she realized that many of her clients and families were not only dealing with complex disabilities and behavioral health concerns, but many were struggling with social determinants, including inadequate housing/homeless, unemployment, food insecurities, basic life skills and assess to other types of insurance and financial resources. She realized that communities needed to be educated and gain access to more than just traditional government services. With this in the forefront of her mind, she is obsessed with helping people have more access and level the playing field. For several years, Pia has worked with her clients to establish financial, emotional, and behavioral wellness goals to help get their finances in order.
As a result of her commitment to working with communities of color, Pia launched her private practice six years ago and currently is the Founder of Financially Fabulously Fit, a financial wellness service specializing in credit restoration, assistance with preparing needed information to create wills/trust/SSI-disability and case management.
She is the Executive Producer and Host of Living Life In Mid Life and The Happy Money Table Podcast, speaker, and trainer. She is a published author of several books, including, Healing Grace: Through Light and Love- A Journey with Lupus, The Self-Esteem Journal, In Everything Pray- 30 Day Prayer Journal, Change Your Money Beliefs-Affirmations, Mediations, and Financial Planner, Getting Started with Estate Planning, Cha-Ching Financial Planner, Financial Guidebook for the Holidays, and the 7 Day Credit Repair Course. Her books can be found on Amazon, The Book Patch, and Payhip.
Along with her husband, James I. King, Jr, a licensed realtor/investor, and insurance agent, they are Co-Founders of “Your Whole Life Financial Services”.
