Wondering how to break your introverted image and socialise? It’s not going to happen without effort. Many find themselves in new situations from time to time that require communication skills that are hardly taught in schools. Besides, mobile phone addiction is making socialising more difficult than it has ever been. We have listed six ways in which you can socialise like a pro without doing too much.
Smile
When you are nervous, smile. When the encounter is awkward, smile. When you don’t want to answer an intrusive question, smile. Smile is a very powerful tool. It makes you approachable and helpful when you don’t want to talk.
Hand on Your Heart
Rather than extending your hand to greet someone, place your hand on your heart and watch his reaction. If he initiates a handshake, take it. If not, avoid initiating because in some culture, it is considered rude for a younger person to extend a handshake to an older person or someone of higher social class.
Dress with Confidence
When you are well dressed, compliments from admirers may be the best way to open up conversations. This is not an opportunity to show off, just understate how expensive your garment is or simply say it’s a gift to avoid asking questions about the price. You don’t owe everyone too much information.
Ask Questions
Asking questions is a sure ice-breaker. Ask but don’t probe. If you are new in an area, ask the older residents what it was like some years earlier. Allow them to tell the stories.
Take Selfies
Instead of brooding over being excluded by others, take selfies and post online. Chances are that while you’re fumbling with your phone, a friendly passer-by might lend a helping hand- but don’t bank on it.
Small Talk
You can make small talk with people on safe subjects. Did I hear you say ‘weather’? Nah. That’s far too boring. Start by introducing yourself and what you do. You can say you are an ice-cream topping consultant. That will definitely spark curiosity and you can just say that’s a line you picked off from a movie and that isn’t what you do for a living anyways. Conversations can flow easily that way without being boring.
