Are you comfortable going up to strangers? Would you rather stay in the corner then go up to a group? Here are six tips for introverts to meet people.
Are you comfortable meeting new people? Do you get anxiety when having to introduce yourself and make conversation? Many introverts aren’t comfortable approaching other people. If you’re not sure if you may be introverted, check out this great article. No matter if you consider yourself and introvert or you’re just a shy person, there are many times in your life that you will need to talk to a complete stranger. Sometimes, it will be an entire group of strangers. This could be for work or at your brother’s birthday party, but it is bound to happen multiple times throughout your life. It doesn’t have to be horrible though and if just the thought of talking to people worries you we’ve got 5 ways to help you manage anxiety. Here are six great tips for introverts to meet people.
Be Confident
First on our list of tips for introverts is definitely easier said than done, but we’ve got a few ways to help you be a bit more confident. Think about 3 qualities that you are proud of. Make it something specific like, “I am proud that I am kind”, or “I am proud of my honesty”. Now write down those 3 qualities that you’re proud of yourself for on a notecard. Now, think about 3 accomplishments that you’re proud of. Make these specific as well, such as “I’m proud that I got my Masters Degree”, or “I am proud that I completely paid off my debt”. Now, write those 3 accomplishments down on the other side of the notecard. These 6 things are part of what makes you, uniquely you. These are 6 things that make up who you are that you are able to feel good about. Nothing will ever be able to take away these 6 things from you.
Be Grateful
It’s hard to focus on our own insecurities when we’re busy being grateful for what we have. So, on another note card, write down a list of three things that you are grateful for. Be very specific with these examples. Think something along the lines of “I am grateful for the way my child smiles”, or “I am grateful for my red hair”. Now you have a list of three things that bring you gratitude. This builds upon working towards confidence and allows you to truly appreciate things you are grateful for, no matter how small they may seem.
Find Common Ground
We’re all human. What do you like? What are you passionate about? Which of those passions can you talk about with other people? Most people watch movies or TV shows. Most people are aware of current events. Read up on some headlines. The weather is always a generic one, but it’s one everyone else is experiencing along with you. Look at what they’re wearing or doing. Do you like her hair? Are they wearing a football jersey? These are clues that help us find common ground. If you show interest in them, you will take the focus off of having to talk about you. You may be surprised at your common interests.
What Are Your Fears of Talking to Someone?
Play out the worst case scenario in your head. If you go up to a complete stranger, it can be scary right? But why? What is the absolute worst that can happen? NOW let’s do it again and play our a ridiculous worst case scenario. “If I go up to that potential client and I start stuttering and make an idiot of myself and they hate me, and then I don’t make the sale and then I can’t feed my babies and then I get kicked out of my house. And then I have to live outside the Walmart and beg people for food.” This sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud right? What are the chances that you could say something so absurd in meeting someone new that you’d be forced to beg for food outside of a store? Whatever your worst fears are of talking to someone, exaggerate it in your head and play it out completely. Then take stock of how realistic it is.
Know Your Intention
How can you do anything without knowing what your intention is to do it in the first place? The intention with this article was to give some great tips for introverts. It wasn’t my intention to HOPEFULLY give some good tips. Knowing my intention also helps me be prepared. If my intention is to get a raise, I better go to my boss with the reasons I deserve that raise. If you know that your intention is to make a new friend, it is much easier to prepare for that conversation. If you know your intention is to pick up a new client, you are able to prepare ahead of time with everything that you need to pick up a new client. Knowing your intention in approaching someone will greatly help ntroverts meet new people.
Have the Conversation With Yourself First
The last of our trips for introverts is to go through the entire conversation in your head from start to finish. Envision yourself going up to them and what you’ll say to start the conversation. Envision yourself seeing the Eagles jersey and then envision yourself asking them about last nights game. Proceed to envision them asking what you think their chances of making it to the play offs are. Then envision yourself asking what kind of work they do. Go through the entire conversation step by step to its completion. Then envision yourself making a new connection with this person. You exchange e-mails or phone numbers and you’ve made a new contact.
So, what do you think? Do you like our tips for introverts to meet people? Do you have a tip you use that could help other people? Tell us in the comments and we could feature your tip or your story in a future post!
