How to Become More Extroverted: 30 Tips to Be More Outgoing
Do you feel awkward in social situations? Does the thought of striking up a conversation with a stranger make you nervous, or the idea of asking out that girl or guy you've liked for ages tie your stomach in knots?
If so, the chances are you are an introvert (just like me!), and while introversion does have it's benefits, it has its set backs too.
In a hurry? Listen on the go!
How to Become More Extroverted
Extroversion is a personality trait that describes a person's level of outgoingness and sociability. People who are extroverted are often more confident, energetic, and enjoy being around others.
While extroversion is often considered a desirable trait, not everyone is naturally extroverted.
However, this does not mean that introverts cannot become more extroverted and enjoy the benefits that come with being more outgoing.
In this article, we will provide 30 tips to help you become more extroverted and take control of your own life and level of success, but first...
Extrovert vs Introvert - What's the Difference?
Many people have heard the terms extrovert and introvert, but may not be sure what they really mean.
Understanding the difference between extroverts and introverts can help you identify your own tendencies and tendencies in others, and better understand how to interact and communicate effectively with people who have different personality types.
An extrovert is typically defined as someone who is outgoing, sociable, and enjoys being around other people.
Extroverts tend to recharge their energy levels through social interactions and tend to be more spontaneous and risk-taking. They often prefer to work in groups and are comfortable in large social settings.
An introvert, on the other hand, is defined as someone who is reserved, introspective, and enjoys spending time alone.
Introverts tend to recharge their energy levels through solitary activities and tend to be more analytical and contemplative. They often prefer to work independently and may feel drained in large social settings.
It's important to note that these are general tendencies and that not all extroverts or introverts fit into these categories.
Many people fall somewhere in between, with tendencies towards both extroversion and introversion. Additionally, individual preferences and tendencies can change based on various factors, such as life events and personal growth.
Ultimately, both extroversion and introversion have their strengths and challenges.
The key is to understand and appreciate the unique qualities of each personality type, and to learn to interact and communicate effectively with people who have different tendencies.
By embracing your own tendencies and working to understand and appreciate those of others, you can build stronger and more meaningful relationships with the people in your life.
The Benefits of Being More Extroverted
Becoming more extroverted can bring a range of benefits, both in your personal and professional life. Here are just a few of the many benefits that you can enjoy when you become more outgoing and confident:
- Stronger relationships: When you become more extroverted, you are more likely to form deeper and more meaningful connections with others. This can lead to stronger relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners, as well as improved relationships with colleagues and coworkers.
- Increased confidence: As you become more comfortable in social situations, your confidence will grow, leading to greater success and happiness in all areas of your life.
- Improved communication skills: By developing your social skills, you will become more confident and effective in communicating with others. This can help you build stronger relationships and resolve conflicts more effectively.
- Career advancement: In many careers, having strong social skills and being comfortable in social situations is essential for success. By becoming more extroverted, you may find that doors open up for you professionally, leading to new opportunities and career advancement.
- Greater sense of purpose: When you become more extroverted, you are more likely to participate in social activities, volunteer opportunities, and other experiences that can bring meaning and purpose to your life.
- Increased happiness: Studies have shown that people who are more extroverted tend to be happier and have a more positive outlook on life. This is likely due to the increased social connections, sense of purpose, and confidence that come with being more outgoing.
Becoming more extroverted can benefit you in many areas of your life.
Whether you're looking to form stronger relationships, advance your career, or simply live a more fulfilling life, embracing your extroverted tendencies can help you reach your goals.
That being said, being an introvert isn't necessarily a bad thing and it has its own set of benefits too - let's take a look at some of them...
The Benefits of Being an Introvert
There are many benefits to being an introvert, just as there are benefits to being an extrovert. Here are some of the strengths and advantages that introverts often have:
- Ability to focus: Introverts are often able to concentrate deeply and work effectively for long periods of time. This can be a real asset in many careers, especially those that require intense focus and concentration.
- Good listener: Introverts are often good listeners and are able to provide a supportive and empathetic ear to those in need. This can lead to deeper and more meaningful relationships with others.
- Enjoyment of alone time: Introverts often enjoy spending time alone and are comfortable in their own company. This can help them recharge and avoid burnout, especially in environments that are high-stimulation or fast-paced.
- Reflection and introspection: Introverts are often introspective and enjoy reflecting on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.
- Independent thinking: Introverts often have a strong sense of independence and are not easily swayed by peer pressure or groupthink. This can lead to innovative and unique ideas and solutions.
- Emotional intelligence: Introverts tend to be in tune with their emotions and the emotions of others, which can help them navigate complex social situations and communicate effectively with others.
So as you can see, being an introvert has its own unique set of strengths and benefits.
It's important to remember that introversion and extroversion exist on a spectrum, and many people have traits of both.
Embracing your introverted tendencies and working to develop your strengths can also lead to greater success, happiness, and fulfillment in life.
30 Tips to Be More Outgoing
OK, so now you understand the difference between an extrovert and an introvert, and what the benefits are of both becoming more extroverted embracing your introverted nature, lets get into our top tips on how to become more extroverted to help you find balance and benefit from developing the traits of both personality types.
I have split these up into different areas that you might want to focus on for improvement...
Understanding Yourself
1. Identifying your personality type
The first step in becoming more extroverted is to understand your personality type.
Take a personality test, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and better understand what makes you unique.
Knowing your personality type can help you identify areas where you can improve and grow, making it easier to become more extroverted.
2. Recognizing your comfort zones
Once you have a better understanding of your personality type, take a moment to think about the situations in which you feel most comfortable.
This could be spending time with close friends and family, participating in a hobby you enjoy, or simply relaxing at home. Understanding your comfort zones can help you identify areas where you need to push yourself to be more extroverted.
3. Setting personal goals
Finally, set personal goals for yourself to help you become more extroverted.
This could be something as simple as striking up a conversation with a stranger, or as challenging as participating in a public speaking event.
Having a clear goal in mind can help you stay motivated and focused on becoming more extroverted.
Building Confidence
4. Overcoming social anxiety
Social anxiety is a common barrier to becoming more extroverted. To overcome this, it's important to practice deep breathing, positive self-talk, and visualization.
You have to put yourself into social situations which force you to communicate with people - start with a simple conversation with someone, maybe get a job in a customer facing environment or mix it up with your current job so you are in more of a team dynamic.
You can also seek support from a therapist or counselor if needed.
5. Improving body language
Your body language can greatly impact the way others perceive you and how confident you feel. To improve your body language, focus on maintaining good posture, making eye contact, and smiling.
It's difficult to feel good in yourself if you are slouched over and looking at the floor.
Make a conscious effort to walk tall with your head held high and speak directly to people's faces rather than mumbling at the floor.
6. Practicing positive self-talk
Positive self-talk can help boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Take time each day to focus on your positive qualities and accomplishments, and remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes.
You don't have to be right all the time, and fear of saying something wrong can hold you back from putting yourself out there.
Affirmations can be a useful tool here for re-programming your mind, for example you could repeat the affirmation "I am not afraid to voice my opinion, because even if I am wrong, it means I have found something I can learn and improve upon, which will help me to grow".
Socializing Skills
7. Starting conversations
Starting conversations can be difficult, especially if you're feeling nervous.
To make it easier, try to find common ground with the person you're talking to. Ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and be interested in what they have to say.
People LOVE to talk about themselves, so just ask them something about them and they will happilytalk your ear off!
8. Listening actively
Active listening is a critical skill for building strong relationships and becoming more extroverted. When you're speaking with someone, give them your full attention, and try to understand their perspective.
If you give people the impression that you aren't paying attention then the conversation will die off and you will fail to build any connection.
9. Making new friends
Making new friends can be challenging, but it's also one of the best ways to become more extroverted.
Look for opportunities to meet new people, such as joining a club or group, enrolling an a course, volunteering for events, or simply striking up a conversation with someone new.
Remember though, relationships have to be nurtured - it's one thing getting talking to someone - but to build the relationship you need to keep interacting.
If you 'can't make it' every time you get asked to do something, you will soon stop being asked - so make the effort!
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
10. Trying new experiences
Trying new experiences can help you break out of your comfort zone and become more extroverted.
This could be something as simple as trying a new food, or as adventurous as skydiving. The key is to push yourself to do something that scares you and step outside of your comfort zone.
11. Participating in group activities
Group activities, such as team sports or group fitness classes, can be a great way to meet new people and become more extroverted.
By participating in group activities, you'll have the opportunity to connect with others, build relationships, and improve your social skills.
12. Volunteering
Volunteering is another great way to meet new people, improve your social skills, and become more extroverted.
Find a cause that you're passionate about and sign up to volunteer.
This will give you the opportunity to make a positive impact in your community while also helping you build new relationships and expand your social network.
Building Relationships
13. Being a good conversationalist
Being a good conversationalist is critical to building strong relationships and becoming more extroverted. To improve your conversation skills, try to be engaging, ask questions, and listen actively.
14. Being a good listener
As mentioned earlier, active listening is a critical skill for building strong relationships.
When speaking with others, make sure to give them your full attention, ask questions, and show genuine interest in what they have to say.
15. Building rapport
Building rapport is about creating a connection with others. This can be achieved through shared experiences, common interests, or simply having a positive attitude.
To build rapport with others, make an effort to understand their perspective, be supportive, and show genuine interest in their life and experiences.
Networking
16. Attending networking events
Networking events are a great way to meet new people, expand your social network, and become more extroverted.
They can seem daunting at first, but there are a lot of people there in the same boat who struggle to put themselves out there and start up a conversation - you would be helping them out too by getting talking to them!
Attend events that are related to your industry or interests, and be prepared to introduce yourself, engage in conversation, and make connections.
17. Following up with new contacts
After attending a networking event, it's important to follow up with new contacts. Send a quick email, connect on social media, or schedule a meeting to continue the conversation.
Meet-up for a coffee and a chat if possible, or if not convenient, you can even have a Zoom coffee and catch up over a video call.
As I said earlier - relationships need to be nurtured - talking to someone once doesn't mean you will be best friends until the end of time!
18. Joining professional organizations
Joining professional organizations can provide you with the opportunity to network with others in your industry and expand your social network.
Attend meetings, participate in events, and engage in conversation with other members.
This can also be a good way to meet other people with similar interests as yourself.
Improving Communication Skills
19. Improving public speaking skills
Public speaking is a common fear for many people, but it's also a critical skill for becoming more extroverted.
To improve your public speaking skills, practice speaking in front of a mirror, participate in speaking events, and seek feedback from others.
You could host meetings at work, give a presentation to your team or even take part in an external event, such as a careers event or something related to another interest of yours.
20. Improving writing skills
Writing skills are also critical for becoming more extroverted.
Whether you're writing emails, social media posts, or articles, make sure to communicate clearly and effectively.
Seek feedback from others and take writing classes or workshops if needed, but the main thing is to get used to putting your ideas out these without fear of criticism or judgement from others - just be you!
21. Improving nonverbal communication skills
Nonverbal communication, such as body language and facial expressions, can greatly impact how others perceive you and your level of extroversion.
In fact, most of our ability to communicate comes from non-verbal communication such as gestures, posture, facial expressions and other body language - around 55% as it happens, with 38% coming from our tone and only a mere 7% from the actual words we speak!
To improve your nonverbal communication skills, pay attention to your body language, make eye contact, and smile. Also practice speaking using a variable pace and tone - there is nothing worse than listening to someone drone on for hours in mono-tone...
Personal Development
22. Developing self-awareness
Self-awareness is about understanding your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
To develop self-awareness, take time each day to reflect on your experiences, practice mindfulness, and seek feedback from others.
Meditation is a good tool to start developing awareness - be sure not to just drift through the day on auto pilot without being present.
Being self aware can help you to notice situational cues and respond appropriate
23. Improving emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is about understanding and managing your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
To improve your emotional intelligence, practice self-reflection, seek feedback from others, and learn to identify and manage your emotions in a healthy way.
Also, be empathetic and learn to read and understand the emotions of others too, and how it might be affecting their current mood - trying to talk the head off someone who is clearly upset is not going to go down well and won't do anything for building rapport.
24. Building confidence
Confidence is an important factor in becoming more extroverted. To build confidence, set achievable goals for yourself, practice positive self-talk, and surround yourself with supportive and encouraging people.
Start by setting yourself small goals, such as I want to have 1 converstaion with a stranger today, which might gradually build up to things like I want to give a presentation to the whole company or a talk at a conference.
The process of starting off by completing small achieveable goals will help to build confidence in your own mind, allowing you to take on bigger challenges.
25. Improving your self-image
Self-image is about having a positive and healthy view of yourself.
To improve your self-image, focus on your strengths and accomplishments, engage in activities that make you feel good, and surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
This is linked to the cycle of subconscious programming and your beliefs - the better you feel about yourself, the more positive your beliefs, which improves the thoughts you have, causing you to take more action and obtain better results, which then feeds back into your self image, and the cycle starts again.
But this is a double edged sword and works both ways, so be sure to make sure you are moving in the right direction.
26. Building resilience
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and adversity. To build resilience, seek support from others, engage in self-care, and focus on finding meaning and purpose in your life.
Knowing what you really want - having a definiteness of purpose, as Napoleon Hill puts it in Think and Grow Rich, goes a long way in giving you the ability to get back up and keep going when life knocks you down - so give it some serious thought.
27. Improving mental health
Good mental health is critical for overall well-being and can also impact your level of extroversion, since people suffering with mental health issues often lock themselves away and struggle in silence.
To improve your mental health, seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional, engage in self-care, and focus on building healthy relationships and experiences.
Seeking Professional Help
28. Consulting a life coach
A life coach can help you develop a personalized plan for becoming more extroverted and reaching your goals.
They can provide you with guidance, support, and accountability as you work towards your goals.
Get advice from a credible coach with demonstrable results of having achieved what you want to achieve.
29. Seeking therapy
Therapy can also be beneficial for those looking to become more extroverted.
A therapist can help you identify and overcome any underlying emotional or mental health issues that may be holding you back.
30. Joining a support group
Joining a support group can provide you with a safe and supportive environment for sharing your experiences and connecting with others who are going through similar struggles.
This can be particularly helpful for those struggling with shyness or social anxiety.
Conclusion
Becoming more extroverted is a process that requires effort and dedication. It's not about completely changing who you are, but rather about embracing your natural tendencies and working to improve your social skills and confidence.
By following the tips outlined in this article, you can take control of your life, form deeper connections with others, and achieve greater success and happiness.
Remember that everyone is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to becoming more extroverted. Experiment with different strategies and find what works best for you.
It's also important to be patient and kind to yourself. Becoming more extroverted is a journey, not a destination, and progress may be slow at times. Celebrate your victories and progress, no matter how small, and continue to work on your goals.
In the end, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and to embrace your unique qualities and strengths.
Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, there's no right or wrong way to be.
Embrace who you are and work to become the best version of yourself - And remember, don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things – that's where growth and personal development occur.
I hope you got some value from that, if so leave me a comment and let me know what you found most useful - and while you are at it, why not sign up to our mailing list and supercharge your journey to success!
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