At some point in our lives, we have talked to a stranger.
It could be a family member we have never met; it could be on the first day of school or even in the store to the cashier. Sometimes we get scared of the idea of talking to new people.
These are just some of the conversations you can have in everyday life with strangers.
When you look at it that way, new friends are just around the corner.
In this article, you can learn some tips on being more comfortable meeting strangers and making them your friends.
How To Be More Comfortable When Meeting Strangers
You can try and think about a few things next time you make conversation a lot easier.
Go It Alone
It can be hard to make a new friend when you are with an old one. If you are by yourself at an event, it forces you to interact with others.
If you go with friends, you are more likely to stay close to them, and even though it can be fun, it takes you away from the point, which is to meet new people.
Make The First Move
Be ready to make first contact. Don’t wait for someone to talk to you first. Standing in the corner of the room will not get you anywhere.
Make sure to move around and make eye contact with someone before you approach them. If they seem willing to talk, then go for it!
Small Talk, Dry Talk
Don’t start with bland comments or easy yes/no one-liners. It makes it so easy for someone to answer and then walk away. Start away from hard hitter topics like religion or politics until you know someone better.
If you can’t think of anything at that moment, a simple “Hi, how are you doing today?” can get the ball rolling. Saying something is better than saying nothing at all.
Ask About Them
In all honesty, everyone loves to talk about themselves. If you are having a hard time moving the conversation forward, try turning to talk about them. Ask them about their work, where they are from, and maybe what they studied in school. Soon you will find out their personalities and interests, and that’s when things get good.
Then Share About You
After a while, the person will want to learn about you. If you ask too many questions about them and give them no info back, they might think you are hiding something or prying into their business too much. If they like talking to you, they will want to know more about you.
Don’t Be Afraid To Find Common Interests
Learning and sharing information is the best part of meeting strangers and making new friends.
It can sometimes take a bit to get to this point if someone is shy or worried about being judged, but you will learn so much about this person once you get there!
You might find someone who shares an interest in the same things as you.
It’s okay if you don’t have any common interests as well. Not everyone you meet will be in the same things as you. Be proud of yourself for making it this far and doing such a good job.
Be Friendly
Don’t feel like you have to make a new best friend or meet a certain number of people when you are out and about. You don’t want your body language to appear aggressive or rushed. It’s not a race, and you don’t want people to think they are some goal to reach.
It’s Okay To Be Nervous
Sometimes it happens that we are more nervous than we thought. Maybe our voice cracks, or our hands are too sweaty. That’s okay; either you can make it a little joke and get people to laugh with you, or ignore it and go on with what you wanted to say.
Everyone gets nervous, but don’t let that bother you, and don’t give up. Push forward or come back later to try again in a fun, light tone.
Be Yourself
A lot of the time, people can see through when someone is just trying to please everyone. Don’t be the person that has something to say but adds nothing to the conversation.
Don’t be scared to be yourself. You might even meet a real friend who is just as weird and happy as you are.
Know When It’s Time To Go
If you know that you don’t want to talk to this person anymore, find a smooth way to exit the conversation and move on to the next person. If you had a great time and are ready to go, tell your new buddy you got to go, but you do want to see each other again. Then get a phone number or contact info, and be happy and proud of yourself for talking to a stranger!
Can You Meet Strangers Without Feeling Anxious?
Of course, you can!
One thing that can help is practice. Practice makes perfect! And don’t expect every person you talk to become your best friend.
It can take some time, and sometimes the chemistry is not there. It’s okay to see your mistakes and move on. When you both are really happy with your interaction, you will know, and it will be natural to reach out and see each other again.
My Final Thoughts
I hope you will continue learning and growing into a better version of yourself every day.
Remember to love yourself and others around you.
