I don't know if programming makes me less social, but I do know that I'm at my most social after I've already been socializing with a lot of people. So if I've spent my day doing anything that isn't socializing, I'm not going to be very social.
The efficient social power-up hack for this as taught to me by someone who can engage anyone (and is not always on):
If you are on the way to a party or some other venue where it pays to be social, park the car far away and on the way over greet everyone you cross paths with with a warm "Hello!". If you do this right (and park far away enough/walk enough), by the time you get to the venue you will be lit up and locked and loaded. Bear in mind, the first hello will suck. Maybe even the next five. Ok, the first twenty.
But if you can get to twenty one or thirty, the energy will shift from why am I doing this to I love doing this.
Part of this is because you are warmed up but more importantly you will start to get people responding to you. Gets you over your fear of rejection because you're just being a social guy or gal. As always, use your best judgement, but this technique is platinum. For bonus points, increase your range - target people across the street by putting your hand up and waving and "HI!"
The abbreviated technique is to greet, pause, and shake hands and/or touch on upper arm with everyone once you enter a venue - immediately. If you ever want to watch this technique at work, go to a political fundraiser and observe (unconscious competence for most).
