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How To Have Successful Conversations With Strangers

Confidence, body language, finding common ground, asking questions, and networking are the keys.

By Jimy LeePublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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How To Have Successful Conversations With Strangers
Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

Have you ever been in a social situation where you didn't know anyone and felt too shy to approach anyone? Or maybe you've been at a party where everyone seemed to know each other, but you were the only person who didn't have any friends.

How would you react if that happened, stay the whole night in your corner, or find a way to meet new people and network with them? If the latter is what comes to your mind, then you are reading the right article.

Having successful conversations with strangers can be challenging sometimes, but not impossible. There are various ways to establish rapport with someone new to make them feel comfortable around you. In this article, we will provide you with advice on how to have successful conversations with strangers and make them become your friends.

Be Confident

Among the essential factors of a successful conversation is portraying confidence. If you feel shy or insecure, you will also make the other person feel uncomfortable. A confident person is someone people want to be around because they're someone who makes them feel good about themselves. The easiest way to exude confidence is through body language.

Make sure you look the person in the eye when talking to them, don't fidget, keep an open posture, and have good posture. Try to speak at a moderate volume and pay attention to your breathing. If you're feeling anxious, take a few deep breaths. This will slow your heart rate, help you stay calm, and prevent you from getting too nervous.

Body Language

Even when you are talking to someone, body language can make a massive difference in making them feel comfortable or uncomfortable. No matter what words you choose to say, the pictures they create in their mind are influenced by your body language.

So, it's essential to practice good body language. Here are a few body language tips that will make it easier for you to start a conversation with a stranger.

  • First, make sure you're standing or sitting up straight. You want to ensure that you look confident and interested in what the other person says.
  • You also want to make sure that you're facing the person directly. You also want to ensure that you're smiling and have good eye contact with the person so they feel comfortable.
  • You can also make sure that your hands are in a neutral position. One last thing you want to ensure is that you're not crossing your arms or legs because it could end up giving off a more closed-off or defensive vibe.

Establish a Common Ground

If you want a successful conversation with a stranger, you need to find common ground between you and them. A great way to do this is through the art of small talk. It's a straightforward and casual way to break the ice and get to know the person better.

However, most people screw up small talk because they're too serious about it. It's not a job interview; it's supposed to be casual and fun. To make small talk work for you, you must make it your own. You have to find a way to make it personal, relevant, and interesting to you. Having a hobby or particular interest is a great way to do that.

For example, if you're at a party and you see that the guests are drinking wine, you can start a conversation by asking if they know anything about the different types of wine. If they don't know anything about it, don't be ashamed to say that you know. Chances are, you will make both of yourself more interesting by sharing your knowledge with them.

Ask Questions

Another great way to have successful conversations with strangers is by asking them questions. This is a good strategy if you have found yourself in a situation where you have no common ground with the person you're talking to.

This is especially useful if the person is a stranger because it lets you get to know them better without putting yourself in an awkward position. When asking questions, you want to ensure you're asking open-ended questions.

Closed-ended questions like "do you like to travel?" are pretty vague and don't give the other person an opportunity to talk about themselves. Open-ended questions like, "where are your favorite places to travel?" are a lot more effective because they let the person talk about themselves.

Asking questions is also a great way to make the other person feel more comfortable around you. You can ask them about their interests, job, and anything else you can think of.

Networking Strategy

Do you want to make the most out of your conversations with strangers? Then you might want to try networking with them. Networking is not just for business meetings and conferences; you can do networking with anyone. It involves using various forms of communication to build relationships with the people around you.

For example, while you're conversing with someone, think of questions that can help you get to know them better and things that you can share with them. If you work in the same industry, then sharing your knowledge of the industry is a great way to start networking. If you don't work in the same sector, then you can try asking questions about their hobbies and interests.

This is a great way to make new friends and expand your social circle. If you're interested in making a career change, then you're in luck. Networking is a great way to make connections in your industry. For example, if you're interested in working in the fashion industry, you can attend fashion industry events and network with people.

Wrapping Things Up

Conversations with strangers can be challenging, especially if you're not good at approaching people. However, it's vital to make an effort to meet new people and have successful conversations with them. These people can become great friends, mentors, and advisors when you need them the most.

To have successful conversations with strangers, you need to be confident, have good body language, establish a common ground, ask questions, and network with them.

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About the Creator

Jimy Lee

Jimmy Lee is a self-help blogger who used to be a network administrator. He's retired now, but he blogs about how to live your best life and be the best version of yourself.

Please consider pledging a small amount to my efforts.

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