Can someone be successful in business, if one is not social?

Question

If one is terribly shy and not very social, can one truly ever be successful in business, the restaurant business in particular? I moved to the south from the north a few months ago, to run my father-in-laws bar and grill during lunch hours, but i avoid as much customer contact as i can, as they induce serious panic/ anxiety attacks. I usually stay in the back office doing back-end stuff and answering the phones, i have waitresses wait on the customers. I don't think this is good for business and it makes me feel bad about myself. Please advise.

Answer 1

You CAN be successful, but you have to face the fact that it would be 10x more difficult if you're shy. Try loosening up a bit, or see therapy for this problem. Engage in conversations with people, what harm could that do? All you're doing is trying to get to know them, and once you do, they will become long time customers =D

Answer 2

Ever hear of the "silent partner" who provides the money but doesn't contribute anything else and yet makes a mint? If so, then you know for sure you can be successful in business and not be among people.

And, there are back office jobs like you are doing now. As long as you are controlling everything that you should be controlling then you will be fine. When you need people to be social you can hire them.

There are a few occasions in business that you need to be among people of your status as business owner but surely you can attend a dinner meeting or two a few times a year and then excuse yourself when you need to leave. Just learn to do it with finness. If over time your anxiety attacks get too much for you then have a partner appear for you or a wife or family member you appoint, or go to a psychologist and ask if biofeedback could help you.

Answer 3

Of course one can. As long as the person has a good business head. If so, it won't be too difficult to manuevre around the actual customer contact issue. Besides, many of the most successful business people have no people skills what-so-ever, but skillfully place the right people in the positions necessary to deal with public when necessary.

(You will be fine.)

Answer 4

In business you have to interact with people to provide services, make deals, find new clients...if you are in charge of the place, but you are not available to people who´d like to make deals with you, then you are not running the place to its fullest potential. You are in a pretty good situation in that you can choose how and with whom to make deals. You can start slow, like putting small daily goals that you can accomplish; like: monday i´ll call the local newspaper and ask about ad rates to put an ad for my restaurant. Maybe you don´t even need that, but just doing that task will give you a little confidence and you´ll be able to move on to bigger tasks over time.

You know, social anxiety is ver common and you don´t have to settle to live with it. Why don´t you call a hotline or look for a therapist in your area? They can really help you overcome your fears. Good luck.

Answer 5

Business is all about relationships with clients, suppliers, employees. Restaurant essentially service, so talking to customers is very important.

So, either convince yourself that your customers are the best people in the world and you love talking to them and making them happy, or get somebody else up there.

Answer 6

You can be successfull, but most people become successful by being friendly and having connections. I'm a chef and i have to talk to people. you gonna have to get medical help if you have panic/anxiety. Your gonna have to come in contact with people sooner or later that's your job

Answer 7

u dont have to have a social relationship with ur customers as long as u have one with the ppl that work above u. the ppl that need to have a relationship with the customers are the waiters/waitresses.

Answer 8

I would think that as long as you maintain healthy communication with your employees and they are doing their jobs and doing them well then your business will be successful, if you are personally serving customers or not.

Answer 9

You're in the wrong business. If you can't "socialize" with the people paying your salary, you need to change your career field. Maybe to an inner office cubicle where you don't talk to anybody.

Answer 10

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