If you want to turn strangers into friends during your initial conversations, the key is basically to shut up and listen.
That’s according to @TheFriendExpert, who says we tend to turn the conversation back to ourselves and that doesn’t create a great rapport. Here are some tips on how to make a strong connection with someone by keeping the chat focused on them:
● Asking Follow-up Questions. When someone tells you something about them, try to dig a little bit deeper, and see if you can get them to open up more. Resist the urge to interject with your own personal experience in the subject matter. For example, if they tell you they’re into podcasts, ask them what genres they’re into instead of shutting them down saying ‘they’re too boring for me.’
● Considering Asking More Open Questions. Asking questions shows you are invested in learning more about the other person but if you get stuck on asking yes or no questions, it’s going to feel more like an interrogation than a conversation. To establish a genuine bond, try to ask questions that need a longer explanation.
● If all else fails, just talk about yourself. Some folks are harder to crack than others and in those cases, you’ll have to open up yourself to get the ball rolling. If none of this works, it’s probably time to chat with someone else.
HT: LifeHacker