Talk first; the rest is easy

For Prosper Mundingi, high school was one of those painful phases of being a teenager, when his character was suddenly exposed to the world. And no amount of pep talk from his elders could prepare him for it.

Born in Masvingo, in the Midlands region of Zimbabwe, first in a family of six, Mundingi's shy demeanour did not bother him much before high school. In African culture, particularly in the Shona culture, it is considered a desirable characteristic for a man to be an introvert and show no emotion.

In fact, being an extrovert and loquacious is often pejoratively attributed to women. So much so that if a man is talkative, it's considered insulting.

"I used to think of myself as an introvert and would always feel intimidated at the prospect of addressing a crowd," says
Mundingi, 29.

"I got a rude awakening during high school as I had to defend my opinions, debate and do presentations. This proved very uncomfortable for me at first and was made worse by the fact that my school, I Gokomere, was an elite multi-racial school. The mix of cultures made it impossible for me to remain in my comfortable cocoon. Daily, I felt challenged due to my shyness and lack of confidence."

Mundingi, who works in Dubai as an accountant, says that when he started school, the prospect of speaking to a group of peers or socialising with other ethnic groups was a nerve-wracking experience.
 
"My confidence would desert me at the very thought of speaking in front of others. It was very hard to muster confidence. I always felt challenged and this had an impact on how I socialised. I had a very limited circle of friends to begin with."

However, looking back, those uncomfortable high school years brought out the best in him. It made him tough and full of determination to do better. Thereupon, he joined the school's English Speaking Society and gradually mastered the art of public speaking. By the end of school, he was well known for his prowess.

"When people think of sociable characters, they usually think of talkative, bubbly or outgoing people who are always in the public eye. Personally though I would not fit into any of these categories.

 I just like socialising in order to know more about people or sometimes just to help them. This is something I learnt from experience: (because) I was an introvert, my peers found it hard to approach me. However, as an adult, I understand how other people feel in the same situation."

It is easy, he says, to dismiss, stereotype or judge people who are quiet by nature. Most misunderstandings, he says, occur due to poor communication. While it's easy to label people as 'snobs' or 'self absorbed', they may be experiencing communication problems too.

Mundingi studied accountancy in Mutare, eastern Zimbabwe. Working as an accountant in Dubai now has not dampened his passion for networking and communication.

"It is often misconstrued that all one ever does as an accountant is to haggle over endless figures.

However, that is not so. My colleagues refer to me as 'the link'.

I am the light-hearted one who helps defuse tension many a time among colleagues and friends as well as lighten the atmosphere that can turn boring or awkward in daily work situations.

"Dubai is a great place as it has a multicultural mix. I love talking to people. This is how it helped me grow and learn a lot about different people and their cultures.

"I work in a multicultural environment and find it amazing how we all blend and learn from each other. For instance, in Zimbabwe, my staple diet was meat and a thick corn porridge called sadza. Here I enjoy Indian cuisine – because I reach out and learn from my colleagues and friends in Dubai."

For Mundingi, his love for communication extends beyond the workplace. He loves chatting to strangers too.

"Being able to break down barriers has helped me discover a passion I never realised I had – helping those in need. However, as the saying goes, charity begins at home.
 
I am in the process of forming a small charity aimed to help needy children in Zimbabwe."I am trying to convince Zimbabweans in Dubai and elsewhere to rally behind this cause.
 
"Being well provided for here in Dubai, my heart goes out to those with nothing. I am in the process of lobbying others to support this charitable cause. The response to this project has been good and I hope that in time, it will become an example of giving back to society using the simplest skill we have: communication."