How To Talk To Strangers

It’s really a tough job for some people to walk up to strangers and talk to them freely. Talking to a stranger can be risky yet interesting and enjoyable. Initially you may be scared of talking to strangers, but with your tricky endeavors you can gain mastery over it. Be it a social gathering, first day at college or workplace you will be able to overcome all your fears and interact confidently with anyone.

Approach Confidently

There are many people who don’t approach strangers because of the fear of rejection. But even if you get rejected you will learn from this and improve yourself for the next time. So, next time when you step out for a social event, chuck your ego behind, go ahead and approach a stranger with utmost confidence. When you meet people of different characteristics and try to approach them, there can be dismissals but be prepared for it.

Prepare to be unnoticed and neglected. These are the possibilities when you approach strangers, but you have to take the risk of talking to them. Everyone is not same, you will be surprised to meet some people who will feel ecstatic and like the way you had approached them confidently. As if they were just waiting for you to approach.

Introduce Yourself With a Pleasing Grin

Firstly, look into the eyes of the stranger and give a big smile. Then introduce yourself by telling him/her your full name. This will make him/her feel easy and they will themselves take the conversation ahead.  Conversely, if a stranger walks up to you and says “hello”, give him/her a sweet grin and make him feel that it was a great pleasure to meet him/her. A cute and friendly smile will help to bridge the gap between you and the stranger.

Listen to Them Intently

When you meet a stranger, you don’t know about his perspectives and desires. He/she may be from a completely different culture and talks in a way that does not vibrate with you. In that case, listen to him/her carefully to understand about his/her background or culture. This way you will learn about his/her likes, dislikes, opinions, necessities and aims in life. This will definitely facilitate the communication and make the conversation more effective.

Understanding The Body Language

While communicating with a stranger, observe his/her body language. If you notice wrinkled eye brows or he/she is looking away, this indicates that he/she is not finding any interest in your conversation. In that case try to speak to him/her more clearly. May be you speak very fast and the stranger may not be used to it. In such cases, speak slowly. Avoid being inarticulate during the conversation.

Also try to avoid speaking unknown languages which he/she may not be able to comprehend. Always communicate in a comprehensible language. On the other hand, when he/she is talking, smile or nod your head, so that your interest towards that person is easily conveyed by your gestures.

If you are not interested in the topic he/she is discussing, you can let him/her know, what your topics of interest are. So that he/she can change the topic that appeared to you as a boring one. Showing your disinterest towards a stranger with a frown on your face will only make you look stupid and unsmart. If you do not have interest in a particular topic or debate, you can always raise your opinion, but in a soft voice.

Involve Yourself In Social Events

Take part in public events to break your hesitation. There are many opportunities in every city and town, where you can join and improve your social graciousness. A few examples of social events are- museum exhibitions, speed dating, night clubs, art shows, rallies, parades, rock concerts, book readings, outdoor festivals etc. So it’s time to make your life exciting and adventurous.

Don’t take your friends or relatives along, just go alone. Because if you take your friends along you will not be able to interact with any stranger. You will be busy talking to your friends only. Remember your main purpose is to overcome your qualms and meet new people with confidence. Social event is a great opportunity for you to solve your purpose. For example, if you go to an art show, ask somebody about the name of the artist whose painting you liked the most.

Or if you go to a rock show or night club, you can start the conversation with a stranger by asking him the name of the music band if you really don’t know which band is performing. You can also share some of your past experiences of live shows you had participated in. You can create a conversation by starting a statement or question to connect with a stranger; he/she will definitely share their opinions on the matter.

Talk To Online Strangers

Join social networking sites; find new people with similar interests. Especially, if you have shifted to a new city where you hardly know anyone, the process of finding new friends online really helps a lot.

If you want to make friends in your area, type your area and find people with matching hobbies. To break the ice, send them a friend request and wait for them to accept your request. If he/she finds your profile interesting, they will definitely add you as a friend. This way you can add a stranger in your friend list. Start chatting with him/her; you will get to know about his/her family, views, culture and interests. This way you will be more comfortable talking to a stranger online rather than the face to face interaction. Those who are basically coy by nature and hesitate to talk to the strangers can try finding new people online and interact with them.

After some time, your bonding and friendship will become stronger and then you may want to meet him/her personally. This will be a real excitement for both of you and at the same time a comfort level will be there because the person you are going to meet is not a stranger anymore.