How to Make Friends by Chatting

Striking up good conversation is key to making friends.

It may be difficult at times to make new friends especially if a new job requires moving to a new city or if you let your social life die down. Making good conversation with others may lead to lasting friendships. Although conversation is mostly an impromptu exercise that comes naturally to more gregarious people, less socially-inclined people may find it difficult to start a conversation or make it flow well.

Instructions

1. Find potential people to befriend. The easiest place to find people is at your place of business or school, if you attend. You may also join adult night classes and find other classmates who share your interests. If you drifted out of touch with people you know send them an email or call and ask to go out for a drink or lunch.

2. Prepare with an icebreaker. Come up with a conversation starter such as a current news topic or something unusual you witnessed or heard on your work commute. Becoming familiar with current events may also help carry the flow of a conversation, should the other person bring it up.

3. Be a good listener. People like talking about themselves so ask questions and pay attention to their responses. Open-ended questions are better than yes-or-no questions, which can sometimes lead to a dead end. Avoid potentially sensitive questions such as religion or political sentiments.

4. Remain sincere and confident in yourself. Direct eye contact, good posture and positive body language all point to a confident person and will attract more friends to your direction. Pay attention to the other person's body language. If his arms are crossed or he has a closed body stance it may mean he is not interested in engaging in conversation.

5. Don't force it to happen. If the conversation is going sour or if the person just doesn't want to talk to you, don't keep going or try to think of something else to say. Keeping a bad conversation going will only make matters worse.

References

• All Events Advisor: Making Friends and Great Conversation
• Positive Articles: 10-Step Conversation Checklist to Win Friends; Joshua Uebergang
• Succeed Socially: How to Make Friends and Get a Social Life