If you’re an introvert, participating in a group conversation may not be your favorite thing to do.
But, in order to succeed socially, you have to know how to interact with people in a variety of situations.
Today, I want to share with you the exact same process that I’ve used to engage lots of people all at once.
As a result, you never have to feel left out or get ignored ever again.
What You'll Learn In This Post
What Is A Group Conversation?
A group conversation is when there are more than two people that are talking to each other.
Typically, this happens during work meetings, family get-togethers, or at a house party.
If you tend to be the quiet type, then you probably struggle with this since you do much better in one-on-one settings.
But, once you figure this out, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable at any event.
How To Be More Confident In A Group Conversation
1. Imagine Things Going Well
From what I’ve seen, those who struggle socially have a hard time controlling what they think.
They tend to replay past mistakes in their heads repeatedly which lowers their self-confidence.
Remember, your mind and body and body are interconnected.
When you change one the other follows.
That being said, instead of ruminating about things not going well, why not imagine the best-case scenario instead?
If you’re wondering how to engage in a group conversation, you need to learn how to stop thinking about the past.
That way, you can get rid of your self-doubt.
Check out this podcast interview with Erika Flint, Founder of Cascade Hypnosis Center, where she talks about how to get rid of your disempowering beliefs.
My advice for you is to make an effort to remember as many positive interactions that you’ve before.
By doing so, you’ll feel a lot more encouraged and capable.
The more you do this, the more self-assured you’ll come across.
In fact, recalling previous successes is one of the best confidence-building exercises that I know.
When you expect good things to happen, then you’ll behave as if they will.
2. Prepare Ahead Of Time
I know making small talk for introverts can be challenging.
If that sounds like you, going to a social gathering can feel intimidating.
This is especially true if you’re going by yourself and you don’t know anyone there.
That being said, if you’re wondering how to be more talkative in a group, make sure you prepare ahead of time.
Do some research and try to anticipate what most people might be talking about.
What you’ll want to do is to gather some information about the event that you’re planning on attending.
To give you an example from my own life, I went to an event where the speaker was going to talk about AI.
So, I looked him up on LinkedIn to read some of his recent posts.
I also did some research on any recent news and advancements in this technology.
That’s why I felt confident going to this event because I’m more familiar with this topic.
Again, if you’re wondering how to never run out of things to say, come up with as many potential group conversation topics that you can discuss with others.
By doing so, it’ll be a lot easier for you to contribute whenever you want to.
3. Be More Present
A lot of people who are shy and introverted have a bad habit of overthinking social interactions.
They usually freeze up mentally because they’re so worried about how they’re coming across.
That’s why they can’t come up with interesting things to talk about.
If that sounds like you, remember to be more present.
Get out of your head and be genuinely curious about people.
Give whoever you’re with your full and undivided attention.
When you’re in the moment, you’ll appear more confident and charismatic to others.
Not to mention, you’ll have an easier time coming up with things to share because you were actually listening to what’s being discussed.
How To Join A Group Conversation
1. Look For Open Groups
If you want to increase the probability of having a great interaction, look for a group that seems inviting.
If you’re not sure what I mean, I want you to imagine a bunch of individuals who are chatting.
Their body language is partially angled outwards and facing everybody else.
On the other hand, a group that doesn’t want to be bothered will typically all be facing each other.
They’ll be huddled in and there won’t be as many gaps in between them.
When you’re just starting out, avoid walking up to those types of people for now.
That being said, once you find an open group, follow the three-second rule, and make a move right away.
From Shy To Social
Discover proven steps to approach and talk to anybody no matter how shy you are.
This is so important because the longer you wait, the more approach anxiety you’ll feel.
You’ll start to doubt yourself and you’ll feel too nervous to take action.
As a result, you’ll end up by yourself for the rest of the event which totally sucks, right?
2. Position Yourself Well
It’s easy to be ignored in a group conversation if you’re not visible.
In order for people to see you, put yourself in a position where you can face everybody else.
That way, you already look like you’re a part of the interaction.
If you’re not sure what to say to join the group, always start with a compliment.
Tell them that you find them interesting and ask if it’s okay to hang out with them.
Also, remember to make eye contact and smile.
Acknowledge everyone and shake their hands to introduce yourself.
By doing so, you’ll give off a great first impression and come across as someone friendly right away.
3. Be Observant
Now, before you say anything, make sure you pay attention to what everybody else is talking about.
Be observant at first.
This is especially a good thing to do when you’re around people that you don’t know.
You’ll want to pay close attention to what’s currently being discussed.
The more you do, the easier it’ll be for you to come up with something that’s of value to everyone else.
In any case, actively listen by making small remarks to acknowledge what’s being shared.
That way, you’ll look like you’re engaged even if you’re not saying much.
Not to mention, whoever is speaking is a lot more likely to include you because you were paying attention to them.
How To Talk In A Group Conversation
1. Stop Hesitating So Much
A mistake that I see a lot of shy introverts commit in a group conversation is that they wait too long to say something.
Even though they know they have something valuable to contribute, they never speak up because they’re looking for the perfect opening.
In fact, this is a common issue that I see a lot with our clients in our social skills coaching program.
As a result, they don’t give themselves a chance to share their thoughts.
And then, they’re mad at themselves for being quiet once again.
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If this sounds like you, you have to stop hesitating so much.
If you think about it, any group conversation tends to be lively and chaotic.
There are really no set rules.
That’s why you have to get comfortable politely interrupting others every now and then.
What you’ll want to do is to use your body language to gesture that you want to say something.
All you have to do is raise your hand slightly.
And then speak up as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
In the event that you do offend someone for cutting in, offer them a sincere apology right away.
Just let them keep talking and don’t make a big deal out of it.
On the other hand, if you do get interrupted while you’re saying something, be assertive but still be respectful.
Let them know you’d like to finish your story if that’s okay with them.
As mentioned before, there are no set rules in a group conversation so expect things to be a bit random.
Don’t take anything personally and just go with the flow.
2. Share Something Relevant
If you think about it, most interactions usually stall when someone says something that the other person can’t relate to.
If you want to know how to engage in a group conversation effectively, make sure you’re adding value to what people are talking about.
This shows everybody else that you’re paying attention and that you’re socially intelligent.
Also, remember to keep the conversation light and fun.
That’s why it’s important that you learn to be funny and have good comebacks.
When you know how to make people laugh, you’ll be able to lighten up the mood.
As a result, people can’t help but feel good when they’re around you.
That’s why whatever you do, avoid talking about sensitive topics and also being too opinionated.
Getting into an argument could turn any interaction awkward really fast.
3. Tell Good Stories
From what I’ve noticed, most people who have awkward silences during their interactions tend to be very concise when they speak.
They give short responses and don’t include enough details when they share something.
If you want to know how to improve your conversation skills stop being so logical all the time.
To fix this issue, try to structure your story better.
Make sure it has a beginning, middle, and end.
Check out this video if you want to be able to express yourself better verbally.
Basically, you’ll want to build it up first.
Use descriptive words to engage the senses and release the tension when you make your point.
As mentioned before, really take the time to prepare what you want to talk about in advance.
The more you do, the more you’ll be able to contribute to any group conversation.
4. Work On Your Delivery
Remember, if people can’t hear you, then you’ll always get ignored.
That’s why you have to get comfortable speaking louder.
If you tend to be soft-spoken, here’s what you need to do.
Talk as if the person you’re talking to is a bit further behind from where they’re situated.
I’m not gonna lie, it may feel like you’re yelling at first.
But, if you’ve been quiet your whole life, this will seem like the right volume.
Also, in order to captivate the group, make sure you raise your energy slightly when you’re speaking.
Use your hands to accentuate your points and vary your tonality as well.
By doing these things, you’ll improve your delivery and you’ll come across as someone very compelling.
5. Have An Open Body Language
Let’s get real.
Would you want to talk to someone with their arms crossed and has a frown on their face?
I didn’t think so.
If you want to know how to engage in a group conversation, you have to pay attention to your non-verbal communication as well.
Check out this video if you want to become socially attractive and approachable.
Remember, it’s not just what you say but how you say it matters too.
As mentioned before, make sure you smile and maintain proper eye contact in order to appear more friendly.
Stand or sit up straight and avoid crossing your arms or legs as well.
When you do those things, you’ll figure out how to be approachable.
As a result, you’ll look open and personable during your interactions and more people will be inclined to engage with you.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering how to engage in a group conversation as an introvert, I just gave you my best tips.
Feel free to go through them again and implement them as much as you can.
And now, let’s turn it to you.
Which one of these tips are you going to implement first?
Are you going to work on imagining things going well or telling good stories?
Send me a message on Instagram and let me know.