The high cost of being shy (Part One)

As a kid, I was very shy, probably because my parents didn’t understand the importance of inculcating self-esteem into their offspring, as this unfortunately was the rule for my generation. As I look back, I’d say that my shyness had a huge influence on my life and has robbed me of many things. 

I’m not the only one to think that way, as decades of psychological research have shown, shyness can have an enormous, often detrimental, influence on individual lives, especially when it is severe or chronic. Sure, mild shyness is a common, normal emotion, but persistent and intense shyness can act as a significant barrier that will mess up personal growth and limit life opportunities. 

The main result being the avoidance of social situations driven by fear of negative evaluation or judgment. From a career and professional standpoint, shyness can directly impede career advancement and job satisfaction. In my case, it has on multiple occasions until it became clear that I had to overcome that hurdle. 

People that can’t get over their shyness are less likely to pursue roles that require high visibility, public speaking, or intense networking. Also, by constantly avoiding interactions (speaking in public or daring to disagree), shy people miss opportunities to practice and refine their "soft skills" or their ability to evolve comfortably in social situations, so crucial for success. 

Further, the constant fear of being evaluated in the workplace can lead to stress and "burnout". In that same vein, we’ve all heard about the “Impostor Syndrome”, where many shy folks attribute their successes to luck rather than their own abilities, further inhibiting them from seeking the recognition or promotion they deserve. 

As you can see all this isn’t good news and I’ve only scratched the surface, tomorrow we explore how shyness can also screw up one’s personal life and mental well being, so please, stay tuned!