3 Ways to Make Meeting New People Easier

I meet people ALL the time… and it seemingly never gets easier. I have picked up a few strategies along the way because, like it or not, meeting people is not only a fact of life, it’s a huge part of my job. Max and I were actually sharing some of our own tips and tricks (before walking into an event with 60+ people!) and I’m so glad she wrote them down for this post!

3 Ways to Make Meeting New People Easier

Guest post by Maxie McCoy

Having a community of people in your life is super important. There are many reasons that we rely on people – whether that’s our besties, our colleagues, our classmates, or our family – we all need different people at different times to help balance out the energy, support, and wisdom that is required of navigating this wild life.

I feel strongly about having a roster of people that you rely on (which is totally outlined in my book) because knowing who your people are and who you can depend on for what makes the tough days or total firestorms a little bit easier to navigate. You know who your people are and who you can call.

But those rosters of people in our lives, those friends, and that community, isn’t something that’s static. It’s something we have to constantly invest in. People come and go. We grow and change. And so meeting new people is something that should always be a priority. Being in the business of making friends is something that will always have an incremental impact.

Gosh, it’s NOT easy though. Hopefully, these three tips can make it a teeny bit more enjoyable.

Ask follow-up questions. Did you know that the #1 indicator of if someone was considered likable or not when meeting someone new was whether or not they asked a follow-up question. It shows that you’re listening. It shows interest. And it’s SO easy to do (plus it takes the pressure off of you!)

Have an “easy three”. What are a few recent things that you can talk about to anyone? Know what they are so you can pull from them in any new meet and greet. Carly taught this to me at an event we hosted a few weeks ago, and I laughed because it’s something that I’ve always done and never realized. Whether talking about a crazy Lyft story, or lost luggage, or your most recent adventure, have a few stories that you can share with anyone.

Engage in activities. It’s so much easier to make meaningful connections when you’re doing something with new people rather than staring at them, shaking their hand, awkwardly exchanging small talk and sipping on your drink. Whether that’s an intramural sport, crafting, or a new class… do something that interests you and you’ll likely find aligned people and easy conversation there, too.

Whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, have plenty of people in your life or feel like you need a much bigger community, it’s OK. We’re all in need of humans in our corner at all stages of our lives. If you hate meeting people, or it’s uncomfortable for you, know that you’re not alone. It’s not easy for any of us. But showing up and showing real curiosity for the humans around you can lead to really meaningful connections that significantly improve your wellbeing.

For help building a really supportive network, read Chapter 5. in Maxie’s new book You’re Not Lost: An Inspired Action Plan for Finding Your Own Way.