Here are two simple things I’ve been told which had a big impact on me:
* If you struggle with conversations and small talk all you need to do is ask questions. An entire conversation can be you asking a question, listening, and asking another question to what they just said and repeat.
The more someone talks during a conversation, the better they feel the conversation went. If you meet someone for the first time, ask questions, let them talk a ton and they will likely feel the conversation was enjoyable.
* Go to a place like a coffee shop or conference or park and sit for an hour and just watch people. You notice that no one cares. And I mean that in a good way. No one cares what anyone else does. A really shy and awkward person could walk into a coffee shop and feel super awkward about waiting in line and then mumble his order and fumble with his wallet and worry that everyone else is looking and judging them. But truth is no one cares. So don’t worry about random strangers.
* If you struggle with conversations and small talk all you need to do is ask questions. An entire conversation can be you asking a question, listening, and asking another question to what they just said and repeat.
The more someone talks during a conversation, the better they feel the conversation went. If you meet someone for the first time, ask questions, let them talk a ton and they will likely feel the conversation was enjoyable.
* Go to a place like a coffee shop or conference or park and sit for an hour and just watch people. You notice that no one cares. And I mean that in a good way. No one cares what anyone else does. A really shy and awkward person could walk into a coffee shop and feel super awkward about waiting in line and then mumble his order and fumble with his wallet and worry that everyone else is looking and judging them. But truth is no one cares. So don’t worry about random strangers.