If I’ve been in a social situation for a couple hours I have a much easier time in a potentially stressful social situation like sales. However I work alone in my home office and have to deal with both inbound and outbound calling without much room for prep time (most of my day involves computer work)
For you other natural introverts, what techniques have you learned for quickly turning off your analytical mood and stepping into a more social one?
Thanks
I have a lot of difficulty interacting socially as well, and I often need a “cool-down” period after a large social event, or times when I am around people for long periods. If I am gearing up for one of those events or when I know I’ve been isolated for some time and need/am required to be around others, I often will turn on the TV or listen to the radio as a way of hearing people speak, even if these TV conversations are going on the background. I can work, get dressed, or just relax with the TV or radio sounds on, and they mimic the social situations I’ll soon find myself in. If I have a little more time, or if I expect the social situation to be intimidating (a wedding, or an important meeting), I will sit quietly at a coffee shop or bookstore where there are people socializing. In both cases–the coffee shop or the TV/radio–I am in social situations without the stress of engaging myself; I can remain a bystander until I choose to engage in a conversation or until I am ready to go to the important event.
Perhaps all this preparation doesn’t make sense to others, but I bet the introverts or socially shy will relate. I hope my ideas help!
I’m a fairly extreme introvert.
Most of the time I take inbound calls for my entire work shift (insurance claims call center), which is fairly social. Sometimes I’m scheduled to enter faxes instead though, which is purely analytical, and sometimes I’ll abruptly be made to take a call or 2 while in the middle of doing a fax (which is the closest analog to your description that I can think of). It sucks, plain and simple. It’s hard to drag out of one mode into another, without any preparation time. I don’t think it’s just a issue with introversion, though. People simply don’t multitask as well as they think they do.
I don’t think there’s really a magic formula for switching gears as such. You have to do it, and it’d be nice to be good at it, but you don’t have to like it (and I doubt you’ll ever get used to it, I know I won’t).
Regarding the inbound calls, I recommend giving yourself a little bit of routine at the beginning of the call. Start with “How’s the weather down there? Did you see the game last night?” Then say things like “Let me just pull up your file and check my notes.” These not only come across as friendly and professional, but they give you a chance to do some mindless conversing while you get your brain shifted into the right mode for something more involved.
I also use the SD as a way to stay “conversational” in between appointments when I won’t have time to shift into analytical and then back into personal modes.