If you've got a social event coming up and you know there will be people you've never met, use these tips to make most of your time.

‍Introduce Yourself First ‍

If you're nervous meeting new people, chances are the people you're meeting might be nervous too. Take the lead and proactively introduce yourself to new faces with simple, no-fluff language that grounds your introduction in something common. Here's some ideas: 

• Mention the host of the event: "Hi, I'm Tim. I'm a friend of Sarah's and I wanted to introduce myself." 
• Be inclusive if someone looks out of place: "Hi, I'm Liam. I'm a long time member of this cycling class, but I've never seen you here. Just wanted to say hi and I'm excited to see a new face joining us."
• Admit you're new: "Hey, I'm Sujana. I'm new here; have you been to this event before?"

Listen more, talk less

It sounds simple, but this is one of the oldest (and most effective!) tricks in the book. When having someone's attention is such a valuable currency, tuning out the rest of the noise and giving someone your undivided attention for a few minutes is a powerful way to make a great impression. Here's some of our favorite ways to express interest and keep a conversation going: ‍

• "Wow - that's so interesting. Tell me more!"
• "I've never met anyone who does that for work - how cool!"
  
• "Sounds like you enjoy your work. Did you always know this is what you wanted to do?"

Be Mindful

Even if you're with some friends, remember that you're still making a first impression with others.