Making friends in life has many benefits, it helps prevent you from isolation and loneliness. Extroverts find it easy to go out, meet new people, make new friends or go to large gatherings. These are the reasons they easily make new friends without a lot of effort. However, for an introvert, to make friends, they often have to get out of their comfort zone.
Why Do Introverts Find It Difficult To Make Friends?
Introverts are people who are usually quiet and reserved. They do not like to socialise often and enjoy time alone. Moreover, they don’t often approach people for conversation unless necessary.
Navigating through social events can be quite challenging for introverts. Introverts often find it hard to meet new people and interact with them. Therefore, it becomes difficult to make new friends. However, they are comfortable talking to people they are familiar with.
Nonetheless, when it comes to developing strong and meaningful relationships, introverts have a great ability to do so. They often meet friends or people when they are alone or with a small group of people which allows them to bond and be intimate and spend quality time together.
7 Ways To Make Friends For Introverts
Introverts often have a social battery due to which they do not like to have spontaneous plans or outings. This often causes them to miss out on bonding activities.
Nonetheless, there are simple ways to make friends as an introvert. It is to use your strengths and strategize accordingly. Here are a few things introverts can do to meet new people and develop good friendships:
1) Be A Good Listener
If you feel like you do not have the energy to have a long conversation, be a good listener, and allow the person to talk and engage with them. This allows you to be present while not spending a lot of effort and energy.
Additionally, you will be creating a positive impression on the speaker’s mind as you will be actively listening, and allow them to open up.
2) Initiating Small Talk
Another approach you can apply is to make small talk. You can compliment their outfit, hair, and fragrance, or talk about superficial things such as how cold or hot the weather is today. This will allow you to initiate a conversation with them.
3) Ask Open Ended Questions
If you do not enjoy small talk, you can ask them open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are questions that can’t be answered in one word like yes or no. It could be as simple as asking where they are from, what their hobbies are, what their favourite movie is, etc. When you get to know their response, you can ask follow-up questions like, what they like about their hometown, why they enjoy a particular movie so much, etc. This will allow you to get to know them.
4) Initiate Vulnerability
When you open up to someone first, it helps build trust. Moreover, when you share your vulnerabilities with someone it allows them to open up to you as well. This will help you get to know each other better and strengthen your bond.
You do not necessarily have to share extremely personal details. However, you can share how you are feeling anxious about an upcoming exam, or something along similar lines. While it is often difficult for an introvert to open up and be vulnerable, sharing generic things will increase familiarity and comfort which help you get to know them better.
5) Establish Clear Boundaries
While developing a new relationship, you must communicate your boundaries with your friends and vice-versa. It will allow you and your friend to be comfortable around each other.
As an introvert, you may often cancel or refuse a spontaneous plan. You must communicate this so the other person does not force you to go out on days you don’t feel like it. A true friend will understand it and accept it without complaining.
Suggested reads: The Importance Of Setting Healthy Boundaries
6) Initiate Conversation Online
Some introverts find it difficult to approach people in real life. If that’s the case with you, you can try to make friends online. Today, thanks to social networking sites, you can interact with people through stories, memes, reels, etc.
Online space is much easier for introverts to communicate as they do not feel obligated to respond and can take their time to do so.
7) Accept Rejection
Another important thing to remember is that you need to accept rejection. Sometimes you may not necessarily connect with people but you should not let that put you down.
You should accept that sometimes things don’t go as well as you wished it would and you can’t control what happens. Nonetheless, a person who truly understands and cares for you will always be in your life no matter what. Sometimes, when things don’t work out it can be for the best.
Remember to not give up hope. Keep pushing forward, and make efforts to meet new people until you are happy with your friends circle.
Also read: Friendships At The Workplace: How Does It Shape You Professionally?