When you’re working on expanding your network of friends, you want to give yourself every possible advantage to win over the people who you meet. Whether you’re just making it a point to be more social or you’ve moved to a new area where you don’t know too many people, you have to put a little effort into making positive connections. Of course, you want to be yourself. Nothing draws people in like genuineness. Nonetheless, there are a few things that you can do to highlight what’s best about you and pique people’s interest. Here are some simple tips for making a great impression when you’re forming new friendships.
Compliment People
Everyone likes getting compliments, so try throwing one or two somebody’s way. For example, you might admire something somebody is wearing like a watch or a piece of jewelry and say what you like about it. You can also ask a follow-up question about whatever you’re complimenting to open up a dialog.
Ask Engaging Questions
When you’re meeting people, you shouldn’t be so overly focused on projecting a certain image of yourself that you end up talking about yourself too much. Instead, stay focused on the people who you’re talking to and invite them to talk about themselves. Instead of just asking them personal questions that may seem prying, ask targeted questions about what they think about something or things that they like. When a person asks you something, follow up with “And you?” or “And what about you?” to make sure there will be a well-balanced exchange.
Make Yourself as Callable as Possible
When you’ve gotten as far as exchanging numbers with someone, you should make that person happy that he or she called. First, try to be as responsive as possible. If you’re not able to take a call, get back to the person within the same day. Also, make sure that you have good voicemail greetings. The automated greeting that just recites your phone number or your recorded name is kind of bland. Make a greeting that shows some personality; a caller will be more likely to leave a message.
Stay Connected
Don’t feel unsure about whether or not someone would like to hear from you and always wait for him or her to initiate contact. Take it upon yourself to reach out to people and call or text to make plans or just say hey. If a lot of time has elapsed since you last touched base, find a way to stay connected. Try sharing a video that you think somebody would find funny or interesting.
Dress Comfortably and Confidently
You want to present yourself in a way that looks well-put-together and confident. When you’re wearing something that you feel good about, you’ll project more poise and self-assuredness. When you’re picking out what to wear, you have to consider how things make you feel rather than just how they look. If clothes are too tight or shoes aren’t comfortable to walk in, you won’t project your best self. Also, it may make you look less than confident if you wear clothes that aren’t a good fit or require a lot of adjustments. Ideally, your clothes should fit relatively loose and comfortably. They don’t need to look expensive in order to make a good impression, but they should be in relatively good condition.
Use Positive Body Language
First impressions are heavily influenced by a person’s body language. You need to stand up straight, face people, and make eye contact. Avoid using body language that appears standoffish such as shifting uncomfortably, keeping your hands in your pockets, or crossing your arms.
Bring Your Smile Wherever You Go
When you’re smiling, you’ll enhance your approachability significantly. That’s not to say that you need to grin from ear to ear, but you should make an effort to keep a pleasant and warm expression on your face. When you approach someone to initiate a conversation, focus on smiling with your eyes more than your mouth, and your smile will appear more natural.
When you put some thought into how you make a good impression, you’ll feel more confident about putting yourself out there. Meeting people doesn’t have to be scary. With a little confidence and preparation, it can be very rewarding.
