Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Luevane on June 16, 2009 at 9:54pm

ACK!!!

Permalink Reply by Bryan Funk on June 16, 2009 at 9:57pm

Wow. This will be a difficult task for me and one that will take me some time to do. With people I know, I am well but not with strangers. I'll have to get out someplace to be able to do this. It is a great task to be a better man.

Permalink Reply by Will on June 16, 2009 at 10:17pm

Some thoughts:

* One way is to simply say "Hi" to a few people. I adapt this from David Copeland's ideas about meeting women, but it should work for just meeting anyone!

* Canned questions are OK. If you're at the gym, "What's your workout today?" You can then fish around until you get a topic that has some real interest.

* Sometimes people don't want to talk. It isn't your fault.

Permalink Reply by Nick Kroton on June 16, 2009 at 11:44pm

I had inadvertently done this today although without the benefit of the tips presented in the article. I have been working on severe shyness for a few years now, and I've found that a simple, "Hi, how are you" is the best all purpose opener. Most of the time, people are relieved that someone else took the initiative (including me when the tables are turned). The hardest thing for me is getting over the need to win over absolutely everyone I speak with.

I am learning to accept that not every conversation will be successful. This is inevitable, but the flip side is that the greatest thing about talking to strangers is the ability to practice. If it doesn't work out, who cares, chances are slim you'll never see each other again. Thus we can make and learn from mistakes without them following us around.

Permalink Reply by Dad of Divas on June 17, 2009 at 5:51am

posted - http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com

I don't see this as a challenge today as in my job I get to talk to strangers all of the time. In my life as a College Administrator, I get to encounter strangers both in the sense of current and prospective students as well as other guests to campus.

The challenge for me revolves around talking to strangers outside of work. I tend to be find with this at work, but once I get home, I don't go out of my way always to get to know strangers, at least not as much as I do at work.

Don't get me wrong, I am an extrovert and can get out there with the best of them, but sometimes, I just don't seem to go with the flow in the direction if you know what I mean.

The only other challenge that I sometimes run into is in what to talk about. I mean, you can get them talking about themselves, but then beyond that, at times it is hard for me to come up with topics at times to keep the conversation flowing. Mybe it is just me.

I will see who I get to meet today! How about all of you, how do you deal with meeting strangers both personally and professionally?

Permalink Reply by thehuhman on June 17, 2009 at 8:07am

I can see this as a challenge for some; but not for me. I talk to just about everyone. I use the same approach with everybody. Once I know I'm close enough for them to actually hear me, I just start talking. I do it with such familiarity, that they are put at ease almost instantly. I usually open with a humorous observational comment, such as, while waiting in a long line, "so... are they GIVING something away here?" or "do they think we've nothing else to do?". The response is usually positive, and along the same line as my question.

Occasionally, I get an "eye-roll", but so what? That response usually comes from teen-age girls. And I rarely talk to them, because it can be rather pointless. I find they are usually so self-absorbed, that they aren't even aware there is anyone else in the room, anyway. (my apologies to my youngest daughter's teen-age friends.)

Permalink Reply by Michael Luevane on June 17, 2009 at 6:09pm

I'm an introvert and when someone does this kind of thing to me, I tend to give a non-answer - maybe just a head nod - and then try to find something on the floor to stare at. I know, it's not the "social" thing, but that's just me. And I don't do it to be rude - please, don't assume that. It's just that I'm not comfortable with that level of social interaction with someone I don't know. It actually drains energy from me, makes me tired.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Borton on June 17, 2009 at 9:08am

This is a great article. He is right about being a great way to meet your soulmate. I met my wife this way. We ran into each other at the store. I asked her a question about something in the store. Then I asked her if she would like to join me for a cup of coffee. The rest is history. But she repeats over and over that she thought it was so hot that I was dressed up and not just in casual clothes and that I asked her to join her for a cup of coffee and not a beer at the bar. That it was different than anyone else that had asked her out.

Permalink Reply by Tom Smith on June 17, 2009 at 10:20am

I did this one easy today. All of the nurses/doctors/surgeons that came to see me were total strangers. OK, it's their job to be nice, but I really made an effort not to be just another patient. Inspired by the AoM, I'm going to handwrite a letter of thanks to all of the staff at the hospital once I can think straight! (Still woozy from the anaesthetic.)

Permalink Reply by thehuhman on June 17, 2009 at 10:48am

Tom, what happened to you? Why are you in the hospital?

Permalink Reply by Brett McKay on June 18, 2009 at 11:14am

I hope you're alright, Tom. Great idea about handwriting a note to the hospital staff! I was in the hospital once and was so impressed by the great care they gave me that I wrote the doctor and nurse a thank you note.

Permalink Reply by Øystein on June 17, 2009 at 1:41pm

I can't really say that I completed this challenge.
Spoke a couple of words with a lady at lunch and chatted at bit with a guy at a shop.
This was exactly the kind of challenge I expected though, and the day is not over yet.

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