Have you ever wondered how to start a casual talk with a stranger? Breaking the ice is not always easy, but it’s not impossible and it doesn’t have to be stressful. Wondering how to start a conversation with a girl or a guy? Here are 5 useful tips on how to do it!
#1 tip on how to start a conversation - take advantage of the surroundings
You are in a bar or at a party? Enjoying a sunny day at the park? Or maybe you’re standing in a tremendously long line? How to start a conversation in different environments? Look around and find some little things on which you can make a casual comment. Maybe the DJ is playing good music tonight (or a terrible one, that’s also a conversation starter, you can complain about it together). If it’s an international environment, find out where the other person is from and what brings them here.
#2 tip - acknowledge details about the other person
Maybe he or she is wearing a T-shirt with your favorite band (or let’s be honest, it doesn’t have to be your favorite, if you know it and don’t hate it that’s good enough)? Or is it the only person in the crowd not drinking beer, but a cocktail or a glass of wine? That is also a good conversation starter to acknowledge such a thing and maybe ask a simple question about it. Seriously, the beginnings are usually simple, it’s very rare that conversations start with great philosophical theories (although it happens).
#3 tip - join an ongoing conversation
This idea involves a little bit of eavesdropping, so please remember that we are not talking about violating anybody’s privacy here. Hearing a conversation on a neutral topic on which you also have opinion is a nice opportunity to join and introduce yourself. Of course start with making sure that the other people don’t mind having a third party in the conversation and don’t push it if you feel that they’d prefer being alone. But usually if you’re joining an easygoing talk over a beer or at an art exhibition or anywhere else where people are mixed in a crowd, it shouldn’t be a problem.
#4 tip - learning names
It may sound like a weird advice, but it checks out especially if you’re in an international environment. I’ ll share my experience with you - my name is Grażyna. I guarantee that except for Polish, nobody gets it right on the first go. And that is usually how I start new friendships, the first 2 minutes is teaching the other person my name and after that we already spent some time together, so it’s easier to keep the conversation going on. If you and the person you talk to are finding it very easy to pronounce each other’s names there is no challenge. In that case, you can use my name or any other uncommon name you know. Tell them about that time when you struggled with learning a difficult name, maybe they’ll be willing to give it a go? Also, remembering another person’s name and address them with it, you’ll be appreciated big time. Remembering somebody’s name right away shows that you are taking a genuine interest in them. It is obviously more difficult now that we are meeting people online, but hey, video talks are a possibility on so many platforms nowadays, I’m sure you will manage!
#5 tip - start with meeting new people in groups
Finding a group of people with same interests as you, you have a lot of great openings. How to start a conversation here? You are already knowledgeable on the topics they like and there are things you have in common for sure. Maybe it’s a new course at your university or you’re volunteering at a film festival. You can start with some general questions about that specific interests you both share. However, now we have mainly online activities. In that case, go find a platform with a variety of interest groups, such as UNBLND, where you will be assigned to these groups as soon as you put in your hobbies - you don’t even have to look for them, the app will suggest itself! You can download it from Apple Store or Google Play. Once you are there, simply join a conversation or open up a new topic based on one of your interests. Also, there is a person with whom you’re having a particularly good flow, you can click on UNBLND on their profile and start a private chat. Finally, you can meet all of the people from your groups in person and do what you like together !
Always remember - it might happen that the other person is simply not in the mood for meeting new people, you shouldn’t take this personally, it is something you should respect - we all have these days! If it doesn’t work with one person, it will with another, don’t get discouraged and do your thing :)
