"The Wallflower"
Learning to overcome excessive shyness and improve
cooperation from others in the process
Let's begin by reviewing the actual "Scenario"
that drew you to this course. It's a description of what we'll call
your "self-defeating pattern." Despite many attempts to temper
your style of interacting with others, and even though people have told
you that you're too shy or withdrawn, you persist in the behavior. As
wild as that seems, the idea that people will keep repeating something
they know is working against them is not unusual. In fact, everyone
does it or has done it. Here's another look at the problem:
You are not one to speak up, even if you need something.
If you have a problem, you'd rather work it out on your own or hide
it than ask for help. If something is wrong, you don't want to be someone
who rocks the boat. You don't like to offer ideas or advice, because
people may not accept what you say. You're just trying to get along
with others by being quiet. Some people describe you as a follower,
and that's fine with you. You don't enjoy taking a directive role and
would rather be managed than have the added responsibility of managing.
You usually don't mean anything negative by your lack of input.
It's not personal as far as you're concerned. You
are interested in doing what's expected of you, and design your efforts
to avoid confrontations, mishaps and catastrophes. Too often, however,
others get the wrong idea about you. They sometimes see you as disinterested.
They think you may not have their same desire for accomplishment, that
you are a marginal player, and that their goals are not important to
you. Some have become offended with you and don’t share their ideas
with you as readily, while others have become more aggressive and pushy
with you. The result is the team isn't functioning the way you meant
for it to. Your efforts are actually backfiring.
It's enough to make you squirm a bit, but that's
only because it rings true. The good news is you're about to learn how
to make some serious changes in that pattern and to make those changes
last.
This self-improvement process is exactly the same
process you would go through in professional treatment, but you do it
yourself (or with a friend) at a much lower cost. The course consists
of a guidance document you read as you work through the underlying issues
of your problem.
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