Five Ways to Be More Outgoing

Start by taking small steps towards establishing contact with the people around you. If someone looks directly at you when you’re shopping at the grocery store or on the train on your way to work, smile at that person.

You will see that most people will react positively to small gestures, like smiling, and that is an instant confidence booster.

After that point, you can ease into saying hello, asking someone for advice, or giving a compliment. The more that you get used to establishing communication, the easier it becomes to voice your opinions and feel as though you won’t be rejected.

Being a nice person to those around you feels good and it helps develop a sense of self-confidence that is useful in basically every social interaction.

It is easy to cling to people who make you feel comfortable and safe, but never branching out can be detrimental in both social and professional environments.

One of the easiest ways to become more outgoing is to ask your friends, colleagues, classmates, etc. to introduce you to their friends.

For example, if you walk into a room and your friend is talking to someone else, make a point to say hello and introduce yourself.

Then the next time you see that person you can say hello and, since you have already been introduced, you have built a bridge into future communication.

No one wants to be the person who asks the stupid question. Being afraid of coming off as weak or incompetent is a legitimate fear everyone has felt at one point or another.

However, if you speak up and ask the questions you have on your mind, you’ll not only improve your performance but everyone who didn’t ask the same question will wish they did.

If you notice something that doesn’t work well in your office or school, feel free to speak up about it. There is no harm in trying to improve your surroundings.

You will seem like a person who really cares about your well-being and others will treat you with respect in return.

Doing something that makes you feel a little (or a lot) uncomfortable is the easiest way to help boost your confidence and help your transition into a more outgoing version of yourself.

If you keep seeing signs for a club or class you are really interested in signing up for, go to one meeting to test the waters.

There is never any harm in trying. Never tell yourself that you can’t do something or define yourself by what you think you should be doing instead.

If you have never danced before in your life but want to take a salsa lesson, try it out. Do things because they interest you, not because they are things you have always done.

It is so easy to get caught up in your self-image that being quiet or reserved can seem like the safest choice.

However, being outgoing offers so much more to gain and can really be the key to getting the best possible experience out of life.

At the end of the day, no one is going to remember that time you misspoke or how nervous you sounded the first couple times you met; they will remember you as a person who made an effort.