Instructions

• Be genial and smile. If you are standing in an elevator or in a queue, don’t just study the pattern on your shoes. Look people in the eye and smile and make small talk.
• Don’t wait for someone else to start a conversation. Take the first step and introduce yourself and tell people you are new to the place. Most people are nice by nature and will definitely stop to talk to you or maybe even show you around.
• You can’t make new friends sitting at home, in front of the T.V. or chatting online. I once overheard a guy advising his friend to ‘stop living under a rock’ and to ‘come out and feel the sunshine’.
• Spend time walking around your neighborhood or city. There will be plenty of people who will be ready to exchange pleasantries with you.
• Joining a club is one of the best ways to make new friends. People who have common interests often bond well together.
• If you get to the stage where you are on a first name basis with new acquaintances, exchange phone numbers and email IDs and make an effort to stay in touch.
• Organize a party and call people you have met recently. Spending time unwinding opens up lots of avenues for good conversation. Do less of the talking and learn to listen more.
• People open up and feel more at ease when you allow them to do most of the talking (at least in the beginning). Once you are all friends, things will be different.