10 Techniques to Improve Your Social Skills
1. Good Body Language
Any action that your body is doing can say what you are thinking. Showing your confidence and enthusiasm while talking can impress people in your conversation. You may try to hold eye contact to create a better connection. People like to know that you are really with them while they talking.
2. Smile
Smiling is another way to show that you are positive and easy to talk to. Some people might find it hard to be that nice. Well, you do not have to smile all the time but just have to do when it is time, like when people say something funny or that you really agree with.
3. Tell your story
Try to get other people interested in you by telling them a nice story that you actually have experienced. There is always something to talk about. It does not have to be long and can be something that you and your family like to discuss. However, telling a plain story, like you just went to a department store close to your house yesterday and it was nice, can cause a boredom. Put more effort and try to think of anything interesting. Maybe, you can tell them what you did or found in that store, like some shops were on sale!
4. Practice a lot
For some people, socializing is something that comes naturally but for some, communicating is something they only do when they go to a shop and want to buy some instant noodle. Of course, it can be awkward in the beginning but you have to face it. Find a topic that will encourage you to talk more. You can try telling your friends or family about your life goals, expectations, and what you plan to do to achieve them. Try not to go back to the general topics if you cannot find anything interesting about them. Just remember that the more you practice, the less uncomfortable you feel.
5. Listen
Listening is an important part of every kind of conversation. Do not just keep talking. You have to make sure that you understand the perspective of others and what they are trying to say. If you do not give them a chance to talk, they will lose interest in getting to know you more and you might end up talking about things they are up against. Also, when you listen carefully, you will always have questions to ask. In a conversation, no one understands it all, so it is better to ask than just remain silent. However, too many questions can also make others feel like you have not listened at all.
6. Start conversation with new people
Try having conversations with new people you have run into every day, maybe in a shop close to your house, a bus, a cafeteria, and even on the street. It might seem challenging but does not hurt to try. When you are jogging, it is fine to say hi to others who are running close to you and then leave with a nice smile. However, if you really want to make a long-term friendship, start with general topics or situations, like the weather, and then try to ask for some other questions related to them, like something that you have seen them doing or having, but keep it general. Asking too personal questions since the first time can make them feel uncomfortable and think you are a weirdo!
7. Do not strict to the time
Be relaxed and calm. It does not matter how long the conversation should be. Do not keep looking to your watch. Basically, if you are in a hurry, you should not start a conversation with the people you are not familiar with because they will not understand. Also, if you already start it with anyone and they are in a hurry, they will let you know and that is normal.
8. Give compliments
You can always give nice feedbacks and respond nicely to the story you are hearing. You can even give compliments on how good looking or funny the other people in a conversation are. Do not be afraid or shy to do that. People like hearing compliments. However, try to keep it concise and realistic. Giving too much might seem like claptrap.
9. Use appropriate tone
Only the right words are not enough to make others want to listen to you. Tone can express your emotions and feelings you are having. People in business like to hear courteous and professional tone. They will believe what you say. In general, just keep it formal at first. Once you are familiar with each other, just use the tone that both sides are comfortable with.
10. Reading
You might be surprised how reading can help you to be more social. When you read, you know more. Reading news, current events or general things such as health, food, or travel will help you find more topics to talk about. Moreover, if you are a fan of some book series, you might introduce them to the others and if you find that anyone is a fan of them as well, you are lucky! You might never want the conversation you have with them to end.
To read more, please visit www.christlewisbooks.com
Any action that your body is doing can say what you are thinking. Showing your confidence and enthusiasm while talking can impress people in your conversation. You may try to hold eye contact to create a better connection. People like to know that you are really with them while they talking.
2. Smile
Smiling is another way to show that you are positive and easy to talk to. Some people might find it hard to be that nice. Well, you do not have to smile all the time but just have to do when it is time, like when people say something funny or that you really agree with.
3. Tell your story
Try to get other people interested in you by telling them a nice story that you actually have experienced. There is always something to talk about. It does not have to be long and can be something that you and your family like to discuss. However, telling a plain story, like you just went to a department store close to your house yesterday and it was nice, can cause a boredom. Put more effort and try to think of anything interesting. Maybe, you can tell them what you did or found in that store, like some shops were on sale!
4. Practice a lot
For some people, socializing is something that comes naturally but for some, communicating is something they only do when they go to a shop and want to buy some instant noodle. Of course, it can be awkward in the beginning but you have to face it. Find a topic that will encourage you to talk more. You can try telling your friends or family about your life goals, expectations, and what you plan to do to achieve them. Try not to go back to the general topics if you cannot find anything interesting about them. Just remember that the more you practice, the less uncomfortable you feel.
5. Listen
Listening is an important part of every kind of conversation. Do not just keep talking. You have to make sure that you understand the perspective of others and what they are trying to say. If you do not give them a chance to talk, they will lose interest in getting to know you more and you might end up talking about things they are up against. Also, when you listen carefully, you will always have questions to ask. In a conversation, no one understands it all, so it is better to ask than just remain silent. However, too many questions can also make others feel like you have not listened at all.
6. Start conversation with new people
Try having conversations with new people you have run into every day, maybe in a shop close to your house, a bus, a cafeteria, and even on the street. It might seem challenging but does not hurt to try. When you are jogging, it is fine to say hi to others who are running close to you and then leave with a nice smile. However, if you really want to make a long-term friendship, start with general topics or situations, like the weather, and then try to ask for some other questions related to them, like something that you have seen them doing or having, but keep it general. Asking too personal questions since the first time can make them feel uncomfortable and think you are a weirdo!
7. Do not strict to the time
Be relaxed and calm. It does not matter how long the conversation should be. Do not keep looking to your watch. Basically, if you are in a hurry, you should not start a conversation with the people you are not familiar with because they will not understand. Also, if you already start it with anyone and they are in a hurry, they will let you know and that is normal.
8. Give compliments
You can always give nice feedbacks and respond nicely to the story you are hearing. You can even give compliments on how good looking or funny the other people in a conversation are. Do not be afraid or shy to do that. People like hearing compliments. However, try to keep it concise and realistic. Giving too much might seem like claptrap.
9. Use appropriate tone
Only the right words are not enough to make others want to listen to you. Tone can express your emotions and feelings you are having. People in business like to hear courteous and professional tone. They will believe what you say. In general, just keep it formal at first. Once you are familiar with each other, just use the tone that both sides are comfortable with.
10. Reading
You might be surprised how reading can help you to be more social. When you read, you know more. Reading news, current events or general things such as health, food, or travel will help you find more topics to talk about. Moreover, if you are a fan of some book series, you might introduce them to the others and if you find that anyone is a fan of them as well, you are lucky! You might never want the conversation you have with them to end.
To read more, please visit www.christlewisbooks.com
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