What is it about ‘meeting new people’ that we automatically associate with ‘awkward conversations’?

Part of the reason people HATE singles’ events, blind dates, and sitting next to a chatty stranger on the tube is that first conversations often wind up feeling like interrogations.

Did you know there’s a simple way that you can make new people feel more at ease with you?

(That only involves breaking one major piece of social etiquette…)

That’s right I want you to forget about ‘asking after the other person’ and instead tell them something about you.

Think about it.

“So whereabouts do you live?” Can’t help but sound a bit stalker-ish.

Offer some information first from your side, “I don’t know about you, but I live in South London, and I love how leafy it is there,” sounds quite friendly & nice! Even better the other person will probably just tell you where they live in exchange.

People like to reciprocate- what they don’t like is feeling like you’re interviewing them, especially when you don’t really care enough to listen to what their answer is.

So next time you wind up making some small talk, take the pressure off the other person by telling them all about you.

And if you don’t feel like you have anything to say for yourself, then that’s your real problem with dating, not the chit-chat.

Hayley Quinn is a leading dating coach in London. See what she does at hayleyquinn.com or get in touch with her at Hayley@hayleyquinn.com