Breaking the Ice: 10 Useful Tips for Meeting New People

Ever wondered what the perfect icebreaker formula is for any occasion?

Truth be told, there probably isn’t one. But that’s missing the point.

More power lies in your ability to feel the social atmosphere and the body language of those around you.

One thing’s for sure: it never hurts to have lots of ideas up your sleeve! The sooner people feel comfortable around you when you first meet, the better.

We’ve collected ten ice-breaking tips and tricks to avoid the dreaded awkward silence that too often looms over first introductions. Let’s get to it!

Your first line of defense when meeting someone new is the first impression you make on them.

Make it a good one! A friendly, welcoming smile, a good firm handshake (if appropriate), and, most importantly, steady eye contact.

Together, these nonverbal cues communicate sincerity and confidence. And make sure your demeanor is natural and relaxed! It will make the other person feel at ease.

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Everyone likes to laugh. It naturally calms the nerves and sets a positive mood.

If you can coax a laugh or a smile out of another person by debuting your charming sense of humor—then, by all means, do so! This icebreaker move is a classic for a reason.

Of course, you’ll need to make sure your joke is falling on the right ears. When you’re making a new acquaintance, it’s best to tread lightly at first.

If your favorite joke isn’t entirely appropriate for the occasion, or if there’s a chance it could be taken the wrong way, it’s best to avoid that risk and pick something safer.

Just make sure it’s still funny! You may want to give potential icebreaker jokes a few test runs, just to be safe.

When you’re struggling to think of something interesting to say, commonalities are your best friend.

Depending on the circumstances of the introduction, you can probably figure out something you might have in common.

Whether you’re at a work event, a wedding, or in line at the DMV, start a conversation with a comment or question that you know the other person can relate to.

That way, if they aren’t sure what to say to you, you’re putting them at ease by giving them something easy to discuss.

Once you have an idea of what the other person might be able to relate to, pull out one of your favorite stories about yourself.

We all have personal anecdotes that we know always get a great reaction. If the time is right, don’t be afraid to share it with the person you just met.

It could be a story about an embarrassing moment or a crazy experience. Whatever it is, keep it light-hearted and engaging.

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Hospitality is a true form of friendliness. Take advantage of this by offering something to your new acquaintance that will help them feel at ease.

This could be anything, really. For example, maybe you’re at a conference, and the person sitting next to you discovers their pen is dried out. Offer them one of yours!

Or, if you’re going to get something to drink, ask if you can bring anything back for them.

These are small gestures, but they make an impression that won’t soon be forgotten.

If you want to show your spunky side, get people talking in a group setting by posing an interesting challenge.

You could say you’re collecting opinions on a specific topic, and ask a “this or that” question. Conversations start when people start taking sides.

Other ideas include making playful “bets” or asking a thought-provoking question that inspires strong opinions.

Just keep things low-key, and enjoy where the conversation leads!

Once you find out a few things about the person you just met, find a way to ask them for their advice about something.

This is as good as giving a compliment because it shows that you recognize (and value) their expertise on a particular topic.

Plus, chances are, it’s something they feel confident talking about. And as we’ll discuss next, that’s exactly what you want!

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So don’t be afraid to ask a couple of boring questions! If you know how to direct the conversation, you’ll find common ground in no time.

Breaking the ice is all about making other people feel comfortable around you.

When this happens, you both make a new connection. As a side benefit, you also help each other feel at ease in the social scene in which you find yourself.

By inspiring confidence in each other, you’re guaranteed to have more fun and make better memories. Cheers to that!