How hard was it for you to step out of your comfort zone?

I've ALWAYS been the shy type, the wall flower, the girl who likes to fade into the background. Most recently I applied for a job that wasn't available so I was offered something else. A position as a host. This means I have to greet EVERY single guest and when it gets crowded basically work the crowd. Ask where ppl are from, ask little trivia questions and as much as I need a job right now I am EXTREMELY reluctant. I was hyperventilating the entire time. How can I step out of my shell/comfort zone and be outgoing enough for this job?

How hard was it for you to step out of your comfort zone?
After the first couple of days, you'll get used to it, get comfortable, and become so much more outgoing.


The first job I had was as a receptionist at a busy car dealership, as a fill in for the regular receptionist who was going on an extended holiday.. I had to answer the phones, greet the customers, call customers who needed an appointment set up or who have left a message, as well as talk over the loud speaker. It was difficult for me at first, but I noticed that after a couple of hours I was really comfortable and worked just fine. For the first few days, the first few people I had to talk to, or the first few times I had to talk over the loud speaker, I'd be a bit shy and a bit hesitant, but I got used to it just fine.


Talk to your employer and tell them that you're a bit shy, so you're bit nervous, and they'll understand.
Reply:I would ask people what they like to be asked when they are in the restaurant. Write these questions down and practice on some of your friends first. After a while, you will get comfortable with it. Also, you are asking the questions so that is all you have to do. You don't talk about you, you ask them questions to hear about them. And listen when they answer your question and feed off of what they say by asking a question about what they just said.





You can even have a cheat sheet in the palm of your hand or put it in your pocket and review it before you approach someone.





You won't believe how comfortable you will get with this after a while. And it will help you stop being a wall flower as well.





I used to avoid public speaking and I was forced to do this as part of my job. I was extremely nervous at first and I practiced, practiced, practiced before hand. Even as I presented for the first 5 minutes, I shook and my heart raced. But after a while, I relaxed as I saw that people weren't throwing rotten tomatoes at me.





I have been doing public speaking for 20 years and I still sometimes get butterflies when I have to present on a new topic I don't know very well. In the case of this type of presentation, I prepare quite a bit before hand and write down what I am going to say before hand.
Reply:Actually I think that the only thing that's going to help you deal with this is both practice with someone you care about and feel comfortable with. And practical application actually working, I think that as you get more used to things your going to get better at it. You may never love being in the front of a crowd but you can get more comfortable with it so that you can manage enough to do your job well. But it will take some time and practice on your part. Do some role playing with someone covering most of the scenario's that you can think of. That will help you feel better prepared if the situation arises.
Reply:Pretend you're someone who can do all the things that scare you. You can take on a different persona and soon you'll realize that it's not as hard as you think. You'll gain confidence and even enjoy what you're doing.
Reply:First, put a big smile on! The more you fake smile, the more you start to ACTUALLY smile. Cheesy and sunshiney and cliche, but hey, it works!





On that note, think to yourself "it's not that bad. It might be fun! A chance to improve my comfort zone!" Like the above, you'll actually start to believe that just a little bit more.





Do what you said you have to do- ask trivial questions. Chances are they won't be judging you, you'll just be that girl who said "hi." Remember that- you're not that important to them."





I really stepped out of my comfort zone this year. I had always been a bit how you described yourself, but I went away on my own for a while and had to learn to be social on my own. Once you get used to it, it's not that difficult.





So finally, if you REALLY feel like you can't manage, try to find a different job. I wouldn't pass up the opportunity though. Maybe you can learn from the experience.
Reply:When you put on the uniform, become a different person. It is not all that hard to do and you might find that people are really interesting. Once you start to open up it gets easer
Reply:These things work for me...





When you see people, smile. I don't know if you do this or not, but some people get this frightened "Oh my god, that person is looking right at me, save me" look on their face when you look towards them. People are generally more receptive to a happy face.





When you talk to people, try not to think too much. Ask questions that you would ask your friends. For example, maybe you're talking to a person who mentions they're interested in politics. Ask them who they're voting for. Maybe you're talking to a person who loves cooking. Mention your favorite dish or recipe and ask them about theirs. Try to cue off the person who you're talking to.





As the crowd gets bigger, you're supposed to "work the crowd", so do yourself a favor in the beginning. Remember a couple of the faces of people who you spoke to when the crowd wasn't that big. Ask around for those people, see who they're talking to, introduce yourself... basically mooch off the people you already know. You'll get to know more people that way. It's all well and good to go to see random people, but you'll be easily accepted into a group where there's one person you already know and had a good conversation with.
Reply:Practicing with strangers is the best way to practice your confidence building. In the store at a check out counter ask the person in front of you how they are doing. Even if they scowl, just blow it off and try again the next time.





Waiting in line, or anywhere you go just practice saying hello and smiling. Chances are you will never see these people again, so you really get some good practice as to what feels most natural for you.





As a hostess, you can think of 3-6 questions. Find out which ones get the best response and use the same ones. To you it may sound like you are repeating yourself, but to the customer it's the first time they have heard that. And if it works keep saying it over and over again.





I use to work in sales and was very timid in stepping out of my comfort zone. I learned very quickly that people enjoy talking about themselves. So I learned what questions got people really talking, taking the focus off of me. So find the questions that get people talking and be sincere. Soon you will find it's very easy to more personable.
Reply:you have to go in with the mentality that most of those people you have to greet, you will never see again. and the ones you already know that come through..well, you should already be able to talk to them rather effortlessly. you just have to make yourself confident, but take baby steps. maybe act a tiny bit more outgoing every day, until you reach your max potential. and talk to them about stuff that interests you. that sounds kind of corny, i know, but it always helped me to feel more at ease. smile a lot and just try to think happy thoughts.. thats what i did at my last job as a cashier. i just had to make myself do it

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