I believe it can be very useful to know how to be approachable, especially when you are trying to make new friends or to mingle at some party you are invited to. Sometimes, if you send the wrong signals, you might think that people are avoiding you and that nobody wants to be your friend. This might even affect your self-esteem and your self-confidence and in the long term, your happiness. Just like Dale Carnegie (the famous author of How to Win Friends and Influence People) said, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” Sometimes, no matter how intelligent, good-looking or interesting you might be, if you look scared, preoccupied or intimidating, people might avoid you and they might not be so inclined to talk to you. So, here are a few extremely helpful tips on how to be approachable that will help you make more friends and be friendlier:
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1. Smile
One of the best things you can do if you want to learn how to be approachable is to smile. Even if sometimes you don’t feel like it, just do it and I’m sure your entire mood will change as well. You will seem friendlier and more open, people will want to be around you and get in on the fun. Also, don’t forget to smile with your eyes; don’t stare, just soften your eyes’ expression and enjoy yourself. You can practice this in front of a mirror and I’m sure you will master this skill in no time.
2. Make Eye Contact
Don’t be afraid to make eye contact! When you are talking to someone, just look directly into their eyes and really listen to what they have to say. Don’t stare at the floor, don’t bury your head in a book and don’t look the other way, just make eye contact and show them that what they are telling you is really important to you. I’m sure you are all familiar with that famous saying, “your eyes are the windows to your soul,” so just let people see what a wonderful person you really are by being more approachable!
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3. Observe Your Body Language
Just observe your body language and pay attention to what kinds of signals it sends when you’re with someone new. Are you extremely shy and you avoid making eye contact or do you usually look too busy, so people don’t have the courage to bother you? If you send the wrong signals, people might not want to interact with you no matter how interesting, charming or beautiful you might be. Just pay attention to your body language and adjust it, so you will seem friendlier and more approachable.
4. Approach Others
If you want be considered friendlier then just go and approach other people! Just like Zig Zagler said: “If you go out looking for friends, you're going to find they are very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere.” Be open-minded, don’t judge people and focus on getting to know them better. Just go and talk to strangers and you will see how easy it can be to make new friends.
5. Offer More Compliments
Just compliment the people around you more often! Notice what you like about them and just tell them how much you appreciate that quality they possess. Be nice and make other people feel good about themselves! We all like to be reminded from time to time how wonderful we are, so why not help other people realize how amazing they are by giving them more compliments? We tend to forget these things, especially when we are extremely busy, so it’s always nice to meet new people who value our opinions and who appreciate and recognize our talents.
6. Don’t Be Rude!
No matter how much a person might annoy you, just don’t be rude, especially when you are surrounded by a lot of people. You will only give the wrong impression, since people will not know whose fault it is or why you behave in such a manner; you will only be perceived as being rude and obnoxious and I’m sure you wouldn’t want that. Just be friendlier, more open and behave in a more assertive manner and I’m sure you will make a lot of friends in no time.
7. Respect Other People
Always respect other people, even if you think that they don’t deserve it! Show them that you respect their opinions, even if you don’t agree with them, and always be considerate when you are criticizing someone. You can tell them what’s bothering you in a polite manner that won’t hurt their feelings and that will show them that you respect their beliefs. Learn to be more assertive and win other people’s trust and appreciation and I’m sure you will be perceived as being more approachable in all the social situations you might find yourself in on a daily basis.
It’s always useful to look approachable in different social situations if you want to make more friends and have more fun. Are you an approachable person? What do you do to be this way? Do you know any other useful tips on how to be approachable that you could share with us? Please tell us about them in the comments section!
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