Going out and talking to people we don’t know can be quite the daunting task. It gets even worse when there is a crowd of people or we’re expected to impress the people we’re meeting. Yet it seems so easy and effortless for “outgoing” people. They strike up a conversation with the person next to them with ease and seem to make friends no matter where they go.
We on the other hand agonize about what to say, how to not sound stupid and before you know it we’ve talked ourselves out of walking up to someone and saying “Hi!”. What if I told you that there is a simple hack you can do that will help you become more outgoing. It’s simple, but it does take a little effort on your part. Are you ready?
It’s practice. Yep, you heard me, practice makes perfect. The idea with this hack is that you strike up a conversation every single day. Ideally this will be in person and in real life, but even chatting online can have some benefits.
Make sure though that you don’t spend all your “practice” time talking to people online. For many of us introverts typing or texting a conversation, be it on a social media site or via text messages, is easier than speaking in person or on the phone.
If that’s you, make an effort to talk to someone either on the phone or in person. Strike up a conversation with strangers as you wait in line at the grocery store. If that sounds too scary, start by chatting with the cashier. He or she pretty much has to talk to you and be nice so it’s an easy conversation to start.
Talk to people as you come across them throughout your day. If you find you haven’t talked to anyone new today by late afternoon, go run an errand or go for a walk with the main purpose of finding someone to have a little chat with.
Before you know it all this practice will pay off and you’ll find you’re becoming that outgoing person you’ve always wanted to be. Conversations become easy and it’s effortless to meet new people. That’s a big change from one little life hack.
Here’s your assignment for the next few days:
Come up with a list of 10 places or situations where you can practice talking to people. Then start making it happen. Pick one per day to begin with or strike up conversations as you come across people.
