Shy is good

Many shy people would love to be that extrovert who can walk into a crowded room and say hello to everyone in that positive, confident way. The shy person may find it difficult to engage with strangers at the party as they are not sure what to say. The cold weather has already been mentioned and the conversation has died.

The shy person will avoid situations in which they are the main focus. Their friends will be few but close ones.

The opposite to a shy person is the outgoing, gregarious, extrovert and seemingly very confident individual. In the extreme form it can manifest a very confident and boastful persona. But we are all different and there is no right or wrong personality type.

My heading “Shy is good” endeavours to allay the misconception that shyness is a negative trait but rather the manifestation of a particular personality type. So no longer envy that brash, outgoing party type. Be your shy, thoughtful self.

I view shyness as an individual personality trait and do not make a valued judgement though society can wrongly consider it to be a personality weakness.

If you are the shy type you will also have the advantage of having excellent listening skills which is a prerequisite for effective communications.

Many of my CEO candidates described themselves as shy and 'not good at small talk' and when we think that we need the Business Developer to be ebullient and extrovert and the scientist to have a thoughtful and reflective persona we then acknowledge personality distinction as situational rather than evaluative.

The 4 Lowe Personality Profiles captures the different behaviours and manifestations;

jobcoach.org.uk