H ow many times have you attended a party where you felt awkward and out of place? Or how many times have you tried mingling with a crowd of people only to find the situation awkward and embarrassing because you can’t find common ground or fit in properly. Do you feel that it is because you have a harder time than others when it comes to making friends?
Don’t worry, that does tend to happen sometimes. Because if we all got along with everyone, the world would be a perfect place wouldn’t it? No, the truth is, there are just some people you get along easily and better with, and some people that you don’t. But that doesn’t mean it has to be hard for you to make friends.
Everyone can learn to make friends easily, or at least learn to get along a lot more pleasantly with people. All you need is to start practicing a few simple tricks to help you get a conversation going with a perfect stranger and before you know it, you’ll be friends already! If you really think about it, the friends that we have now were at some point or another strangers right? How did we end up being friends with them?
Maybe you’ll find these useful the next time you strike up a conversation with a stranger at a party or a group and see if you guys can end up as friends:
- Find A General Topic: Start off by talking about a topic that everyone will know about to get the conversation going and gauge their response from there. Even better, if you’re approaching or joining a group of people, listen to what they are talking about. If it is a topic you know, jump in with your own opinion when there is an opening. Don’t go off on a topic that nobody knows about, because all you’re going to end up with is a lot of blank looks and awkward silences. People tend to be a lot more chatty when you talk about something that they know or something they might be interested in.
- Be Genuine: Don’t be fake. People will not respond well to you if they know you are fake and even worse, they might get annoyed with you or brush you off as someone superficial or shallow. Just be yourself and be genuine about it, don’t pretend to be someone you’re not just to fit in. After all, if they are going to be your friends, they should accept you and like you for who you are.
- Mind Your Body Language: If you want people to start a conversation with you, you need to look open and friendly. Don’t stand with your arms folded across your chest. Don’t have a stuck up expression on your face and don’t stand with your shoulders hunched. Instead try to be relaxed and at ease like you own the place and everyone in the room is your friend. Smile when people make eye contact with you, look warm and friendly and inviting and shake hands firmly when you’re introduced to someone. Stand up tall, be confident and people will take notice.
Try out these tip for yourself and see if it makes a difference in how you build new friendships!
Image credits: quickandsimple.com, saidaonline.com, prlog.org, aolhealth.com, askmissa.com, beboldnbrazen.com
great tips.. love~ =)