How to get rid of that feeling of awkwardness when meeting new people

The awkward situation that comes with meeting new people can cause misbehavior that may even cause you to miss great opportunities more especially for introverted people like me.

For some people like me as well, meeting new people may be a lot easier and fun because some people tend to be more out-going than others.

Yet even the most out-going person or the extroverted human, the challenge of meeting new people can sometimes spark these feeling of Awkwardness and thus make the whole process less easy.

This is a natural thing, especially at this digital age when everything about the human life has been been digitised.
Most people now feel awkward, or experience some form of Awkwardness doing the actual human interactions.

With technology displacing the human interactions, It is clear that, Web Applications, Social media, AI and Robotics, has absolutely replaced human interactions or has reduced it to the barest minimum.

However, this awkwardness should not prevent you from seeking and meeting new prospects from time to time.

Meeting new people exposes you to new ideas, new mindset, new attitude and definitely two pair extra eyes.

Here are some tips to help you to be comfortable in your own skin as you meet your new prospects.

1. HAVE OPEN GESTURES

Being open here means you don’t close yourself off from getting to know new people. When you meet someone, try not to fold your hands, look down, and play with your cellphone. Make sure to look at the person you are greeting and smile brightly.

Gestures are an important point for someone to want to get to know you closer. If you look stiff or nervous, other people will find it awkward to talk to you.

2. AVOID PERSONAL TOPICS

When you meet new people, the next thing you can do is start a chat. Choose a topic that is general to both of you.

The goal here is to find a common ground for both of you where you can comfortably contribute to the conversation.

Don’t talk about your business, or ideas unless the reason you were meeting is to discuss the business idea.

If the reason you are meeting up is to discuss business, then by all means stick with business related topics, don’t bring family topics or your romantic stories into it.

3. BE A GOOD LISTENER

When you start a conversation, be a good listener too. Especially when you just met. Actively listening or responding to the topic of conversation will build a pleasant discussion atmosphere, and you will get to know each other faster.

Don’t just listen to respond, but listen to understand, you will find out how often we all are guilty if this, always listening with the intention of responding thereby missing out on the salient details of the conversation.

To get rid of these awkwardness, you will need to listen more than you talk, try to enjoy the conversation and the company of the person you are with.

4. BE HONEST

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One of the great attitudes you can apply is honestly complementing the person you are talking to.

When you complement someone honestly, it makes them feel good about themselves, and they will tend to do more of the things that will illicit your complements.

This is how you can easily connect with someone you are attracted to. It is worthy to note that the complement must not be physical or trivial, you really need to look beyond if you want to make an impression.

You can as well give an honest compliment to the person about his or her mindset, thought process, attitude and other personal traits.

There is always something to complement someone on, your job is to look for them and complement them on that.

However, do not be insincere in your compliment, you just have to be genuine in your compliment and you are on your way to making good acquaintance.

5. REMOVE ANY FORM OF EXPECTATIONS

When we are meeting someone for the first time, may be on the road, or in the bus, or any public place,  it is always in our nature to form expectations in our mind.

My advice is that you should not let these expectations guide you as they will surely either escalate these awkwardness or may ruin the relationship all together.

6. DON’T LET YOUR PHONE DISTRACT YOU

It’s disrespectful to be pressing your phone or doing something else while you are chatting with someone especially someone you just met.

What you are projecting to the person by pressing your phone is that you are not interested in the chat, or that the person is not important enough to be given your full attention.

Your phone and gadgets can always wait, you don’t have to disrespect your new meet by not paying attention to the conversation.

But even when you must use your phone may be due to an emergency or a call coming through, courtesy demands that you take permission from your new meet.

7. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY EYE-CONTACT

The eyes is the doorway to our heart and soul, a genuine eye-contact portrays a healthy as well as a genuine feeling of warmth and trust.

Don’t ever wear eye glasses when you are meeting up with someone new especially the dark ones.

The goal is to be open as much as possible, when you keep an open body gestures, the chat always go on more smoothly.

8. SMILE.

Your smile is your signature, don’t ever loose that especially when you are meeting up with someone new.

Smilling means you are open, friendly and accessible, and people will naturally want yo hang around with you because you are easy-going.

But the problem is that you don’t  have to fake your smile to appear acceptable. Infact there is no better turn off than a fake smile and people usually see through that fakeness.

When you are meeting someone new, a firm handshake and a genuine smile might just be the things you need to look comfortable in your skin thereby avoiding that awkwardness.