How To Become a Master at Talking to Strangers By Megha Seth
Human beings are social animals, our primal instinct is to establish a connection with another fellow being. This habit is socialized over the years as we set boundaries and become selective.
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o individual can exist in isolation, we have our primary circle and our social circle. Many of us rarely interact beyond that circle. But there is a whole wide world outside the circle, with a diverse range of people, settings, environments, cultures, information and opportunities waiting to be exchanged and explored. A research paper published by Social Psychological and Personality Science shows that even a small amount of social interaction, like chatting with a person on the train or even a person next to you in the queue at the grocery store, helps boost mood. It leads to a feeling of belongingness and keeps isolation at bay. Initiating a conversation with strangers is not always an easy task. But there are several keynotes that you can follow to start with it. BENEFITS OF TALKING TO STRANGERS Wondering if you should even try talking to strangers? There are immense benefits of it: 152
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
Networking Networking is helpful in increasing the linkages within and external to your social networks, which can be successfully leveraged to achieve not only the requisite financial and professional objectives but also build a healthier sense of emotional belonging and sense of self. Gain New Perspectives Our world-views are a function of experiences which are as varied and diverse as existence itself. Exposing ourselves to different and conflicting perspectives can help enlarge and reinvigorate our own perspectives. Improved Social Skills Usually, extroverts can naturally initiate conversations. But it does not always have to be this way. When you practice approaching strangers and initiating conversations with them, you also help yourself by strengthening your social skills. Open Up a World of Possibilities Opportunities are always waiting to be explored. They could be in the form of strangers you choose to initiate conversations with. You only miss one hundred percent of the opportunities you don’t take. You have no idea of what to expect from an interaction until and unless you step up and initiate conversations with a stranger. www.lancmag.com
