As a girl who has moved on a lot in her life, starting over and meeting new people is something she should be very, very good at. But for some reason, meeting new people is still a bit stressful for me, so if you’re thinking “me too”, you’re not alone! I used to get overwhelmingly nervous and uncomfortable in front of new people, sometimes I still do TBH, but thankfully my socially awkward phase has slowly gone (and I mean it). slowly) faded as it aged. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks on how to meet someone new that have helped me meet some of my favorite people in my life today.
While going out and trying to get to know someone in hopes of creating a close friendship, starting a romantic relationship, or even making a new professional connection isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s always worth doing. You never know what could come out of that, right? That’s what I’ve had to tell myself over the years while learning to meet someone new, at least.
With many embarrassingly awkward moments with new people under my belt, I’m here to share the new relationship tips that have really worked for me in the past so you can learn how to meet someone new and build genuine relationships from now on. outside.
Our top 6 tips on how to meet someone new
1. Start a conversation
First of all, if you want to meet someone, you have to work hard! This means introducing yourself if they haven’t already, and starting a conversation. There have been so many times that I’ve met someone that I thought was really interesting, wanted to know more, and then never did anything about it. I never made an effort to start conversations, so that’s where our interactions ended. So don’t be me! Practice approaching someone you want to be friends with by starting a conversation the next time you meet someone interesting.
2. Ask genuine questions.
If you’re going to spend the time and effort talking to someone, make it worth it for both of you. While the conversation can start with shorter questions to get to know you, the only way to really get to know someone is by asking them genuine questions. An easy way to do this is to follow up a trivial question with a more in-depth one. For example, if she tells you where she is from, you can say something like, “I’ve never been there! What do you like best about this?” or “What was it like growing up there?” These questions are a natural way to move from small talk to deeper conversations where people are more likely to share personal information that can help you learn about them, like what your childhood was like for example.
3. Listen actively
One of the most important things I learned as I got better at meeting new people was to stop listening in order to respond. This means stop planning what you’re going to say next while the person is still talking. Instead, really look at them and actively listen to what they are saying to you. Then, wait a few seconds to make sure they’ve finished what they were saying before responding. This ensures that you are engaged and that you are not interrupting their train of thought, which communicates to the person that you are involved and interested in what they have to say.
4. Spend time together one on one
If you discover through your conversations with someone that you have common interests or hobbies, ask them if they want to meet up sometime to do them! Spending one-on-one time, especially doing something you both enjoy, can create a bond or camaraderie that might have taken you longer to develop. If you’re not sure if you have common interests, asking someone out for coffee or a drink sometime is a totally natural and normal way to learn more about them in a no-pressure environment where you can have uninterrupted conversations and get to know each other. .
Source: @sam-lion | pexels
5. Be yourself
You can’t expect to get to know someone for who they really are if you’re not being who you really are. When they ask you questions, don’t just answer with what you think they might want to hear or what you think they might agree with. Be yourself even if it means making yourself a little vulnerable, without crossing the line of being uncomfortable, of course. This will help build a stronger connection between you, allow you to get to know each other better, and signal that you can also feel comfortable being honest.
6. Don’t rush
Since forced conversations and forced relationships are the worst types of torture, remember not to rush your relationship with someone new. As you get to know each other, your bond with them will naturally grow and strengthen, so take it one step (or conversation) at a time. Tip: If you think you might be coming in too strong, you probably are, so take a moment to assess your approach before moving on.
25 questions to ask someone new to get to know them
A little small talk is fine, but if you really want to get to know someone, you should move the conversation away from the standard “Where are you from?” types of questions to topics that will really help you learn more about them as a whole. To do this easily, try asking some of these interesting and fun questions.
- What is a TV show that you can watch over and over again without getting tired?
- Do you have any random hobbies?
- What’s the wildest thing on your bucket list?
- What is your favorite book you have read so far this year?
- What is your guilty pleasure?
- Who do you like to follow online?
- When you are in charge of choosing a movie, which genre do you lean towards first?
- What is a band or artist that you love that people would be surprised to like?
- What is your favorite childhood memory?
- If you could have one thing on automatic delivery to you for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- What is your least favorite party?
- What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were younger?
- What conspiracy theories can’t you get enough of?
- What is your favorite order in an ice cream parlor?
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- What is one wellness habit you swear by?
- Do you have a favorite season? If so, what is it and why?
- What is your favorite karaoke song?
- What was the first celebrity you fell in love with?
- What is the best gift you have received? What about the best you’ve ever given?
- What is your biggest fear?
- Are you an early riser or a night owl?
- If you weren’t in the industry you’re in now, what industry would you be in?
- What is the best professional advice you have received?
- If you had to start a side hustle, what would it be?
