How Do I Make New Connections?

For some people, meeting new people is very easy. Outgoing people head out and strike up conversations with others in all kinds of situations.

Introverted people don't have it quite as easy. But even they manage to make a nice new acquaintance every now and then. This works best when the person on the other side has a more outgoing personality and takes the first step.

In today's age of social media, it has become easier for introverted people in particular to make new acquaintances. Today, interest groups can be formed online, and you can exchange ideas on all sorts of topics without being openly focused on the other person. The attention goes to the topic you're discussing first, and who knows, if you get along well, you may suddenly find yourselves talking about personal things and even meeting in person.

"Acquaintances" here doesn't just mean dates - it also means friendships and professional contacts. Of course, some acquaintances never lead anywhere, which is no big deal; maybe it was simply a nice conversation, and sometimes that's enough. There are all kinds of acquaintances, personal or professional, and you should always keep in mind that the other person is just as valuable as you are.

[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignright" width="300"]Making friends Meeting new people[/caption]

Nurturing Existing Acquaintances

Has an acquaintance turned into a friendship or an important business relationship? Then it's important to maintain that friendship or business relationship. Reaching out regularly and meeting up from time to time helps. You shouldn't only be interested in yourself, but also in the other person in this acquaintance, whatever kind it is. What matters is not to fake interest, but to be sincerely interested.

A one-sided friendship will sooner or later fizzle out. Of course, a lot depends on the individuals involved: some can talk for hours on end, while others need a bit more. There are so many ways to have a good time with an acquaintance.

Here, too, it's important to know what the other person likes to do. If you go boating with someone who is afraid of water, for example, it won't go over well. Before doing something with your acquaintance, you should talk about what the two of you might enjoy, in order to avoid nasty surprises and make sure everyone involved has fun.