Next step - Being social for sake of being social

[aaaiiihhh]

I've gotten really good over the years. I'm not afraid to pick up the phone to call someone anymore. Not afraid in public places to ask when I need something. When I'm at work and really need to ask someone a question, not afraid to ask it. I am good when I have a task I need to get done when it involves people.

The hump I need to get over is being social for the sake of being social.

I've had a really good, successful career. But as I go up farther, the more I know I'll need to become more of a leader. But who's heard of a social-phobic leader?

I know I should be more generally social, but the thought of it makes me tired...and of course anxious. My mind goes blank. I hardly want to deal with it. It wouldn't be so bad if there were just occasional work events, but at work every monday, lunch is brought in and people usually all sit together and eat. I take my food to my desk and hide. I know I should interact with my co-workers. But I just don't want to. Sometimes on sunday, i think of the prospect of trying to do it, and it makes me tense before the weekend is even over.

I am to the point where I am re-thinking my entire career because I just don't know how to get over this hump. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[Helyna]

But who's heard of a social-phobic leader?

I wonder if the feeling of being a leader, the power, the knowledge that people look up to us, would make us feel better. But how to get there? For now, I think what you have to do is just get up and sit with your coworkers. Plan a joke to say if they ask you what you're doing there all of the sudden. Humor always helps. But just do it. It'll probably be less scary than you think.