We explain 10 keys to put shyness aside and start being more communicative.

Being a person with the ability to communicate with others, knowing how to speak in meetings and meeting new people is what defines sociable people .

If, in addition to these qualities, we add a certain self-confidence, spontaneity and desire to live, we can be in front of a sociable and fun person: the kind of people who make us have a good time and who manage to arouse the sympathy of almost everyone.

Being sociable: an advantage for different areas of life

In addition to the clear advantages that being sociable can bring in leisure settings, it should also be noted that, increasingly, companies value sociability and communication skills .

In a world where machines replace human work, the virtue of knowing how to communicate well and connect with interlocutors is gaining importance, and it is for this reason that corporations look for professional profiles that are empathetic and open-minded people who help them to know the tastes of your potential clients or who know how to connect with managers of other companies.

10 tricks to be more sociable, fun and empathetic

If you are a bit shy or reserved, you should know that social and communication skills can be learned. In fact, connecting with other people is one of the most trainable skills we have. We are social beings by nature, and if you put these tips and tricks into practice, you can improve in this regard .

1. The importance of trusting yourself

This may be easy to say, but it is not so easy to put into practice if you start from a slightly diminished self-esteem or you have become used to thinking that meeting people is not your thing. You have to know that we all have things that make us unique and special, curious stories and a vision of reality that distinguishes us.

If you are able to value yourself, you will be able to get closer to those people you want to know for sure, and it will be much easier to be able to connect personally and emotionally .

2. Don’t be afraid to chat with strangers

One of the things that will decisively help you improve your social skills is to jump into the ring and start talking with people you don’t know very much. For example, you can try talking to people who build you more confidence, about topics that are comfortable for you, such as some current news or something that genuinely draws your attention to your interlocutor. You will see how the vast majority of people react positively to your questions.

Little by little, if you practice this point, you will notice that it costs you less and less to start conversations and you dare to speak with individuals who previously imposed more on you .

3. Look into the eyes of your interlocutor

It is important that you get used to having eye contact with the person you are talking to. Not only will you transmit greater security in yourself but it will allow you to connect and generate empathy with your interlocutor.

Also keep in mind that it is very positive that you can have touches of humor . The person you talk to will surely value your humor and empathize with you more. Of course, it is not a good idea to exceed certain limits in humor. At least in the first contacts, let’s use a kind of joke that is pleasant and that can not cause discomfort.

4. Be genuinely interested in your interlocutor

Do you like someone else to genuinely care for you? You will most likely answer yes to this question. We like to feel valued, and therefore we feel good that there are other human beings who want to know us better .

If you like other individuals to be interested in you, other people are exactly the same. Therefore, it is a good idea that you are the one who facilitates the interaction . Without making it appear that you are questioning them, a fluid and pleasant communication can give you the tools to be more sociable and fun. Above all, touch on issues that can unite you, such as common interests.

5. Don’t just interact with your close circle

You should be encouraged to engage in conversations not only with the people around you most of the time, but also with people you meet in more informal contexts and situations . If you always surround yourself and talk to the same circle of people, you will tend to stay in your comfort zone .

Look for places and situations where you can meet new people and put into practice your sociability and your ability to communicate and empathize.

6. Stay in touch

If you know someone with whom you would like to meet again on another occasion, do not hesitate to ask for some form of contact (facebook, phone, email …). In this way, you will have a fast way to get to know that person again and, if you both want, you can meet again somewhere and resume your friendship.

In our age of technologies and social networks, many friendships can be kept alive over time thanks to this medium . Take advantage of it.

7. Join group activities

If you carry out activities with more people (such as training courses, team sports, gatherings on a topic that interests you …), you will force yourself to meet new people and cooperate .

This can be very useful if in your daily life you do not have places to expand your horizons. Surely joining one of these groups, or even going to the gym, can be very helpful when it comes to developing your sociability .

8. Be someone who is nice to be with.

Don’t underestimate the importance of smiling, being gentle, and having good manners with other people. It is easy to deduce that we are all attracted to those people who make us feel good .

This is one of the most important tips if you want to develop your sociability and empathy, because if you are kind you will notice that others begin to give you the same good treatment in return.

9. Practice whenever you can

Your family circle and your closest friends can be a good test bed to open up and socialize. All the aforementioned techniques and tricks can be put into practice with them: take an interest in their lives, keep in touch if you are not close to them, empathize with them , do unusual activities …

If you have an exciting and active life, you will not only be more sociable and interesting but you will attract more people to want to meet you.

10. Don’t worry if some interaction doesn’t go as expected

Losing the way to relate to others also implies accepting that not everything always goes the way we want . In fact, you have to keep in mind that sometimes the people you are trying to interact with will not be in the mood. It happens to all of us sometime and we don’t have to think about it any more.

Nothing happens! Don’t take responsibility for it. For every person who is not in an open state of mind towards you, you will find several who will want to meet you. Learning to be more sociable and fun also means fighting shyness and being more open with others, even if sometimes someone may not be very nice to us. This should not affect us.

If you are kind, open and friendly, you will meet people who will contribute positive things to your life . This is not a 100-meter sprint, but an attitude that you have to raise in the medium and long term. You will notice how your life changes for the better as you progress.

Ody Team

Ody Team is a qualified social media expert at Coding The Line, London. He had graduated from the University of Cambridge