Aren’t women supposed to like shy guys? Aren’t they supposed to value the fact that they listen more than they speak because after all, silence is golden isn‘t it? Yes, generally speaking, shyness is a quality that many women find endearing and attractive in a guy who they date, and some women even relish the challenge of bringing Mr Shy out of his shell. Conversely however, it is shyness that gets in the way of a relationship getting off the ground because it often masks a person’s true personality and makes them nervous and uncomfortable particularly around those of the opposite sex.

Dating can be a real ordeal for bashful guys, particularly where first dates are concerned. Shyness is often at its worst when dealing with the unknown but on the bright side, most men do find that it does subside considerably with familiarity. So try the tips here to help you ride out this initial rocky road and make sure your date sees the best of you.

Dress to impress

If you like what you see in the mirror it will automatically give you a massive boost in your confidence and dispel some of your shyness. As they say, if you look the part and feel the part, you are a whole lot likelier to act the part so really make an effort here.

Honesty goes a long way

One of the major problems with timidity is that it can often be mistaken by women for indifference. The worst thing you want to do on a first date is give the impression that you’re not interested and that you have nothing whatsoever to say to her. Often, just letting your date know that you are shy can be a brilliant way of breaking the ice and of allowing her to understand you a bit better. Most men go to great lengths to hide their shyness so this is a really difficult thing to do, but it takes guts and women will respect you for it.

Choose your date partner wisely

For most shy guys, blind dating is not the best idea. Instead try to date someone you know; a work colleague, a friend of a friend, an old classmate. The more common ground you share with a woman, the more at-ease you are likely to be during the date and the more certain you can be that the girl is not intimidating.

Think about the location

Making sure your date takes place somewhere that you feel comfortable is very helpful. Great date locations include theatres, parks or zoos, art galleries and places where you can engage in an active task such as bowling or mini-golf. Best avoided are stuffy restaurants, pubs and clubs. Basically, the more interesting your location, the less you will have to talk to fill in the empty gaps. More importantly, suggesting a location shows a woman that you are capable of taking the initiative; definitely a highly rated trait.

Keep it short

Setting your meeting within a limited space of time can be helpful as it is easy for you to get away if the situation gets difficult. Meeting for lunch or coffee is a good plan and, if the date is successful, you can always make the second meeting longer.

Never forget that dating is an art and the more you practice it, the more confident you will become. It is not about faking it or pretending to be someone you are not. To be shy is to be human as long as you don’t let it take over and detract from who you are. So get over it, get out there and get dating.