Classes that will help you overcome your shyness

Is your shyness getting in the way of you moving up in your career or stopping you from making new friends? These three classes are sure to boost your confidence and may be just the ticket you need to meet new people and make strides, both professionally and personally.

1. Improv
Improv’s basic philosophy is “yes, and” which means that in order for a scene to run smoothly, participants have to accept the other person’s idea and build on it. Instead of declining invitations for fear of not knowing what to say or how to act, learning to say “yes, and” will encourage you to accept opportunities that come your way and make the best of them.

2. Dance
When you’re learning how to dance, you don’t have to worry about knowing what to say, you just have to let yourself move to the music. Learning steps and performing a dance routine in front of an audience will give you a sense of confidence and achievement you didn’t know was possible.

3. Public speaking
Even people who aren’t usually shy can have trouble expressing themselves in front of others. Public speaking classes teach you to have effective communication skills, voice your opinion in a concise manner and debate respectfully. These skills are important to advancing many types of careers and will help you in social situations too.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that shyness isn’t necessarily a fixed trait. It’s entirely possible to learn the skills needed to be more outgoing. The above three classes can help.