Always in the Kitchen at Parties: Simple Tools for Instant Confidence

Always in the Kitchen at Parties: Simple Tools for Instant Confidence
Leil Lowndes

The bestselling relationships author of How to Make Anyone Fall in Love With You is back: Leil Lowdnes has written a lively and empowering book that will help anybody who lacks self-confidence or is held back by shyness. If you're the kind of person who wants to hide in the kitchen at parties, Leil will help you get out and mingle like a pro.Written with insight, humour and empathy, Leil Lowdnes reaches out to anybody who gets jumpy in social situations and offers clear guidance on becoming a social success in the most gruelling of situations. Even better, she’ll turn dread into enjoyment.Leil covers a wide range of scenarios including:• New Friend Fidgety – Uneasiness when meeting new people• Phone Phobia – Hesitant to answer or talk on the phone• Party Panic – Anxiety at gatherings• Job Jumpy – Fear of job interviews and shyness at work• Cold Sweat Stage Fright – Panic when people are watching• Presentation Paralyzed – Petrified at making a speech• Boss Bashful – Speechless around superiors

copyright (#ulink_61c298ae-b80b-5eca-8f3d-9aa888839287)

HarperElement

An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

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London SE1 9GF

The website address is: www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

and HarperElement are trademarks of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

First published in the UK by HarperElement 2006

© Leil Lowndes 2005

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Leil Lowndes asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN 9780007199785

Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2015 ISBN: 9780008138400

Version: 2015-11-04

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contents

Cover (#u2fe60c52-a8f9-5996-99d3-e1856c0636e7)

Title Page (#uaf856f5e-d52f-5fe5-a95f-2ff10bd061a8)

Copyright (#ulink_cf986e56-922b-59e1-8dc9-afc474294b48)

Preface (#ulink_587ba45a-fa22-5d12-9430-58dc57430c4a)

Section I: A Word to the Shy …

Don’t Be an Avoidance Junkie (#ulink_ccc0bb81-84f6-5d3c-b305-32f34814cc9a)

SHYBUSTER 1 Go Cold Turkey on the Small Stuff (#ulink_93ec98ec-039e-5644-945f-4057fffc6e96)

Don’t Expect a Miracle (Today at Least!) (#ulink_a4de39f4-cd08-59ae-8d54-45428c62697f)

Welcome (#ulink_d160715f-1b95-5a95-9800-b53053b39f11)

SHYBUSTER 2 Eat the Peaches at Your Own Pace (#ulink_8fe868ca-2516-5093-bcb7-6f96ae023d99)

The Confidence Warm-up (#ulink_8854b3f9-1e9b-5624-9437-985d8363518e)

SHYBUSTER 3 Wake Up Like a Whacko (#ulink_4115d9a7-b25a-5b72-b6d0-7184cb451841)

Section II: Why Am I Shy?

Take the ‘Cot Test’ to See if You Were Born Shy (#ulink_c231ed8d-3f8e-5a54-88ff-bfaedfe42e5c)

SHYBUSTER 4 Ask Them if You Freaked Out (#ulink_d975fd62-7194-56a3-867d-ede79647dd7c)

Did I ‘Catch’ a Dose of Shyness? (#ulink_c49a9552-f5f1-50da-ac30-bb43b185f571)

SHYBUSTER 5 Rummage Through Your Relatives (#ulink_bb7ed4f8-f48c-57a4-a920-976d114bbecd)

SHYBUSTER 6 Did Shyness Rub Off On You? (#ulink_6c4a5242-f125-519a-9929-1066787ca30a)

Was it Bullies in Bygone Days? (#ulink_6fcfd105-c1bc-5320-b2c4-9ba9edb9db1d)

SHYBUSTER 7 Replay the Early Show (#ulink_e38af1e7-312f-51bb-9475-5d1595561cef)

It Was All Mum and Dad’s Fault (#ulink_3e9e0f83-dca1-5729-b6fe-49a0dc294e30)

SHYBUSTER 8 Don’t Baby Your Baby (#ulink_c6885542-1c2d-5a88-aefa-6855b648291a)

So Who Ya Gonna Blame? (#ulink_b20b988b-89e0-5b7d-8f3b-b97c902ee192)

Section III: Dealing with People Until Your Shyness Is Gone

Should I Tell People I’m Shy? (#ulink_271bdfa0-08c9-5689-87e0-0d6092254e27)

SHYBUSTER 9 Why Tell Strangers? (#ulink_2a218a96-de36-5a3c-b6da-88def103c6da)

Labels Are Lethal (#ulink_20ab917f-58b4-5fce-aa40-0391d847d29f)

SHYBUSTER 10 Don’t Burn Yourself with the ‘Shy’ Branding Iron (#ulink_1d34aaad-e5ff-560c-ad9e-02b724057b7f)

Tell the Truth, the Half-truth, and Nothing But the Half-truth (#ulink_66aae2b7-bb8d-5ade-8a0a-f51945a19a1c)

SHYBUSTER 11 I’m Shy, So What? (#litres_trial_promo)

Section IV: What People Really Think of You