I knew it! You are shy to talk to strangers or scared to be rejected as you approach someone you do not know. I can feel you - that is exactly what I felt 7 years ago. My classmates in university can prove it - I was tough and unfriendly. But I realized that no man is an island so why stay away from nice people around me?
It's boring not to have friends and and you also limit yourself of the possible opportunities you will have in talking to any stranger.
I hope the following ideas can help you to grow your relationship with amazing people.
1. Smile and be nice to people you meet everywhere. I always believe that the universal language and connector is SMILING. It does not need to have an objective of selling or getting something but it's just being nice!
2. A small greeting of Good Morning/Good Afternoon/How are you? Are good choices but you can also start with a compliment like "Nice book" "Nice bag" "Lovely dog." I prefer to have it personalized based on what I see from the person I am talking - what he/she possibly likes.
3. Keep going. Conversation can just flourish by being genuinely interested with the person you are talking. For traveler like me I usually use, "Where are you from?" "What do you do?" What brings you here?" to another traveler. But for locals in the areas I am visiting, "What's a good place to visit here?" "What's a good food to try here?" "You have a very beautiful city." are questions that allow me to connect to people.
4. Now do not expect that just because they talk to you, they already are your friends. It's good if they offer to give their contact details but I prefer to give my card first by saying, "You look really nice and friendly I hope we can connect. By the way here's my card."
5. When I am back home I usually send them a short message to thank him/her and express my interest in seeing him/her again. For what reason? For friendship or anything that matches your interest or passion - if you are working or in business maybe to connect for possible business partnership. But most of the time I talk just to find friends and win more friends and other opportunities or new connections can just be added sometime later.
Remember to show interest to people. So they will become interested to you. Talk less about your achievement unless they ask. Talk more about their winnings, their travels or anything about them and not you.
I love to see you in the comment section below. Please write your thoughts or you can also help me decide for the next topic we will write in this blog. See you!