It’s hard to escape meetings in the working world. They are an integral cog in the machine of organizations. Even if you work at a small company, odds are you’ll find a meeting or two on your calendar.

Unfortunately, Introverts often struggle to get their bearings in a room full of people where discussions are unscripted and decisions may be made quickly and informally. The reason for this is not one clear-cut answer but a combination of factors that can quickly overwhelm an introverted person. As anIntrovert in a meeting, for example, sometimes you’ll feel unheard above the din of your extraverted coworkers or stressed out by the high level of participation required.

But there’s hope for Introverts yet. You can learn to avoid the dread you feel for work meetings by using these tips to help mitigate discomfort.

1. Prepare yourself for the meeting ahead of time

Introverts may be stressed when meetings involve being put on the spot or they’re pressured to give an opinion on something they haven’t thought about before. By prepping a day or two ahead, an Introvert will feel less stressed. Prep whatever you can think of: review the agenda, organize your talking points, and pre-empt any objections that may come your way.

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Another aspect of preparation is to jot down any questions you have. Is there something that’s been bothering you? Make a list of questions, concerns and suggestions and bring it to the meeting. You’ll be more inclined to bring these things up if you have a written record to look over, and it’s a good way to organize your thoughts ahead of time.

3. Prep yourself for the inevitable small talk

Introverts dislike that small talk is an integral part of socializing and networking. But small talk is inevitable during company events like meetings, whether it's with co-workers you don't know well or new employees who have recently joined the company. Although small talk makes you uncomfortable, think of it as yet another work task — it may help you in your career relations.

To take control, think ahead on a few key questions or topics to bring up with your boss, managers or co-workers. Having a basic outline in your head will make you feel less awkward when you're in the moment. Another tip is to hone your listening skills. When this person brings up an avenue for conversation (be it family, a hobby or a work concern), continue the conversation in that direction. This can make small talk less painful and steer the conversation into more meaningful points than the weather or their well-being.

Finally, if you're simply not up for making small talk during a meeting, it is okay to give yourself grace. Don't feel obligated when you are too drained to involve yourself.

4. When possible, seat yourself where you feel comfortable

When you have control over where you sit, your seat choice can make or break your stress levels. If you choose a seat next to someone you know is “a talker,” the pressure to converse will drain your energy. Select a chair beside a fellow Introvert or one that gives you some breathing room from the Extraverts of the office.

5. Volunteer to speak before others

Yes, you dread talking on the spot, but if you have something you’ve considered before joining the meeting, raise your hand and address this topic as soon as possible. Why? Introverts tend to procrastinate when it comes to speaking, but the longer you wait, the less likely you will be to say what you wish. Furthermore, once the conversation takes a turn or others distract you, you may have lost your opportunity or forgotten what you wanted to address. And what’s worse than attending a meeting in the first place? Leaving the meeting with regret that you didn’t speak your mind about something important.

6. Change your outlook on meetings

Introverts hate many things about meetings, but what if they decided to look at them from another standpoint? Maybe the meeting topic isn’t exciting (or even necessary), but the opportunity to make sure people see you as a valuable company member is something you can use to your advantage.

Instead of thinking about the meeting’s useless or stressful qualities, think of them as part of a game you’re participating in — get seen and heard first. Then, you can sit and absorb the information afterward without feeling like another invisible worker bee.

7. Don’t feel pressured to rush your responses

It’s good to come armed with talking points you’d like to speak on, but you may be speechless when a boss calls upon you to give your opinion. If you cannot formulate a cohesive response, a reasonable thing to do is to be okay with saying no to the pressure to speak. Instead, say you need more time to consider your stance and ask them to return to you later. This is a thoughtful way to respond, and your boss will appreciate your honesty and desire not to rush any critical commentary.

8. Use your analytical strengths

You’re an Introvert, so one of your strengths is listening and carefully analyzing information. Use this skill to focus on the conversations and take note of points that others may have missed. When you have a suggestion after someone else speaks, use the opportunity to speak up.

9. Don’t feel bad taking breaks

If you have more than one meeting in a day or one long marathon of a meeting, don’t feel the need to sit amongst the crowd and converse during breaks. Use this time to take a walk or enjoy a quiet moment away. A break will help revitalize you. If you can also take a break after the meeting(s) before jumping back into work, do so.

10. Practice repeating positive affirmations before meetings

It sounds like a silly task, but when you tell yourself you’ll have a good experience, it often makes it so.One research articlepublished in The Annual Review of Psychology suggests self-affirmations can help lessen the stress of an encroaching threat — this idea, when applied to everyday “threats” that provoke stress, like a meeting you’re dreading, means you could lower your physical stress response if you practice thinking positively about doing well in the meeting.

A positive affirmation for meetings could be as simple as saying you’ll speak your mind when you have something to say or won’t feel pressured to participate more than you have to. Whatever your goal, affirmations could help you alter your mindset enough to feel more confident or less stressed.

In summary: striking a balance

Meetings are necessary events in the working world, and although you may not look forward to them, you have to learn to live with them. Introverts are notorious for disliking work meetings, which can deplete their energy and overwhelm them. However, by implementing some quick tricks, Introverts can learn to dislike meetings less.

While Introverts may not ever love meetings, they can stop dreading them when they learn to harness their power to better cope with them. When you learn to make meetings work for you, whether by speaking your mind more or by giving yourself the grace to unplug for a bit, you can come to terms with meetings as another part of the workday.