Social anxiety is more common than you may think. If you find yourself among the 15 million adults in the U.S. with social anxiety, interacting with colleagues, making calls at work, and participating in staff meetings might be challenge. Here are some tips to keep social anxiety from hindering your professional experience. 

Social anxiety vs. shyness

Shyness and social anxiety are terms that are often used and understood interchangeably, perhaps because there is quite a bit of overlap between them. However, it is possible for people to experience both at once, or one independent of the other. 

While shyness can make you uncomfortable in a specific situation, social anxiety can affect your quality of life. Understanding the difference is important when you’re trying to identify the experiences and needs of those around you. It is equally important to understand these terms as they relate to you and your specific situation. Shyness is a personality trait, often noticeable by others, and it doesn’t require treatment. Social anxiety is a mental health condition in which someone might feel extremely anxious, but present as extroverted and confident. 

Participating in meetings when talking seems impossible

Meetings can feel extremely difficult for someone with social anxiety. The best part about dealing with something that you can anticipate is that you can prepare in advance. Follow these tips for a successful meeting. 

Practice

If you know that you will be expected to speak or if you know what the topic of the conversation will be, you can write some ideas down and practice. If certain topics feel more natural for you to talk about, take the opportunity to rehearse speaking when these specific points are raised in the conversation. 

Work up to it

Another way to prepare for a bigger meeting is to interact with your colleagues one on one first. Making a habit of smaller interactions may help you to feel more at ease when you go into larger meetings with co-workers. 

Nonverbal communication

Participating in meetings is more than just voicing your opinions. Most experts agree that 70-93% of all communication is nonverbal. Nodding at someone that you agree with or attentively listening and smiling when appropriate or other body language is a good way to participate in a meeting when speaking seems too difficult.