Have ever felt like you make people feel uncomfortable when they’re around you?
If so, then you need to learn how to be less awkward in social situations.
I’m about to share with you the exact same process that I’ve used to figure out how to interact with people and build rapport with anybody instantly.
What You'll Learn In This Post
Why Do I Feel So Awkward?
Speaking from experience, whenever I feel awkward, it’s because I’m too attached to the outcome.
I’m so invested in the interaction going well that it causes me to behave differently.
As a result, I don’t get to act like myself and I have a difficult time showing my true personality.
How Do You Socialize Like A Pro?
1. Practice Reading Social Cues
If you want to know how to be less awkward, you have to be able to read social cues.
As an immigrant, this was something I had to figure out very quickly when I moved to Canada.
Growing up in the Philippines and being raised in Saudi Arabia, I was exposed to different cultural norms.
I knew that if I wanted to learn how to be more likeable, I have to be able to communicate with others effectively.
Check out this video if you want to be outgoing and less awkward.
To help you get started, you have to educate yourself on how to be more outgoing.
If you think about it, it’s not like they teach you this stuff in school or at home, right?
That being said, you can read books about it, listen to podcasts, and watch videos about this topic.
And then, try to implement what you’ve learned as much as you can.
I recommend you do some people-watching as well.
You can go to public places like coffee shops, parks, or restaurants.
And then, take the time to observe how everyone interacts with each other.
Look at their body language and their facial expressions.
Listen to the words that come out of their mouth and their vocal tonality as well.
Try to identify the underlying meaning of what they said and how they said it.
Doing so will help you get better at reading social cues, which in turn will make you less awkward.
2. Do Some Research
If you don’t want to bail on social events last minute, then you need to mitigate the fear of the unknown.
By preparing ahead of time, you’ll figure out how to relax around people you don’t know.
To make this work, do a bit of research on a particular gathering that you plan on going to.
And then come up with stories that you can potentially share.
From Shy To Social
Discover proven steps to approach and talk to anybody no matter how shy you are.
If you think about it, most people usually talk about their work, their upbringing, places they’ve been to, events they’ve attended, and their interests.
Am I right?
I would also encourage you to familiarize yourself with current events.
Find some reputable news websites and bookmark them.
Also, check out their social media accounts before you head out.
That way, you can stay up-to-date with trending topics.
By doing so, you’ll experience less approach anxiety and be able to contribute in any group conversation a lot easier.
You’ll figure out how to avoid awkward silences because you know you have something valuable to share.
3. Present Yourself Well
As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to create a great first impression.
If you want to know how to be less awkward, you have to take your appearance seriously.
Check out this podcast interview with Tanner Guzy, Founder of Masculine Style, where he talks about how to tell your story through clothing.
Whether you like it or not, we all make snap judgments about people right away based on what we see.
That being said, put some thought into the way you dress and how you groom yourself.
If you’re not sure where to start, pay attention to who’s already attracting the type of people that you want in your life.
Observe what they wear and do your best to emulate them.
Also, have a more open body language by standing up straight and keeping your arms to your side.
Remember to maintain proper eye contact and have a genuine smile on your face.
By taking the time to learn how to be approachable, people will be inclined to interact with you.
4. Be Curious About Others
Those who struggle socially tend to ruminate a lot.
If you’re wondering how to be less awkward in social situations, you need to put your attention on others.
Get out of your head and make an effort to be present during your interactions.
Give whoever you’re with your full and undivided attention.
Ask yourself what’s so interesting about the person you’re speaking with?
Connect with that sense of curiosity and keep the conversation going from that place.
Really take the time to understand what they’re saying.
Actively listen by leaning forward and nodding in agreement.
When you do, you’ll make anybody you talk to feel special.
That’s how you become memorable and you’ll stand out in a good way.
5. Don’t Beat Yourself Up Mentally
Personally, I’ve worked with a lot of shy introverts in the past.
From what I’ve noticed, they have a bad habit of replaying past mistakes in their heads over and over again.
That’s why they don’t feel good about themselves.
If you want to figure out how to be less awkward in social situations, stop beating yourself up mentally.
My advice to you is to forget about your screw-ups and remind yourself of your previous wins instead.
By doing so, you’ll feel less discouraged and more capable.
In fact, recalling your past successes is one of the best confidence-building exercises that I know.
Remember, it’s your mind anyway.
You can fill it with anything you want.
You might as well choose thoughts that empower you and support your goals.
6. Avoid Oversharing
Being vulnerable will definitely help you connect with others.
But there’s a right way and a wrong way of doing this.
You have to find the balance between opening up and sharing too much information too soon.
If you’re wondering how to be less awkward in social situations, keep the conversation light and fun at first.
Once you feel like you have some rapport built, then try to share a small secret about yourself.
See how the other person responds and then go from there.
7. Don’t Put People On A Pedestal
Most people who struggle socially don’t feel like they’re good enough.
They’re easily intimidated by others which causes them to act shy and timid.
If that sounds like you, let me ask you a question.
How can you expect people to like you if you don’t feel good about who you are?
If you want to know how to be less awkward in social situations, you have to learn how to like yourself.
To help you get started, make an effort to think of your positive traits.
Grab a sheet of paper and make a list of what’s good about you.
When you do this consistently, you’ll start to feel more comfortable in your own skin.
You’ll see yourself as a high-value person and you’ll act more like yourself around others.
8. Calibrate Your Stories
If you’re wondering how to be less awkward in social situations, you have to be empathetic.
Before you tell your story or make a comment, put yourself in other people’s situations.
Check out this video if you want to know how to express yourself with words.
Ask yourself if you would enjoy it if you were on the receiving end of it.
That’s why it’s so important to read the crowd before you say something.
When in doubt, be observant at first.
That way, you can get a feel for the person you’re interacting with.
As a result, you’ll be able to calibrate your stories better and build rapport with others much faster.
9. Ask For Feedback
Remember, you don’t know what you don’t know until someone shows you how.
If you want to learn how to be less awkward in social situations, you need to be aware of how others perceive you.
You might be doing some things unknowingly that are putting people off.
For example, you might be using a lot of filler words.
Maybe you talk too fast or you don’t speak loud enough.
Perhaps you tend to interrupt others when they’re talking.
Who knows?
That’s why it’s so important to get some feedback.
For starters, you can ask people that you trust how you’re coming across socially.
Get them to tell you what they think you’re doing well and what you need to work on.
If you’re willing to, try recording yourself while you’re telling a story.
That way, you can see your delivery and hear how you sound.
And then, you can make the necessary adjustments before you go out and socialize.
But if you want to get results much faster, consider working with a social skills coach.
Not only will you have a proven plan to follow, you’ll also get expert feedback and accountability as well.
That way, there will be no more guesswork because you know you’re doing the right thing.
As a result, you’ll improve your social skills faster and be able to get this part of your life handled.
10. Avoid Being Argumentative
Getting into an argument is a quick way to end any interaction.
That’s why whatever you do, avoid discussing touchy subjects especially with someone you just met.
For now, stay away from sensitive topics like religion, politics, sex, and race.
You don’t want to get into a heated debate about something controversial.
If you want to figure out how to be less awkward, try to keep an open mind and don’t be so opinionated.
Make an effort to see every situation from other people’s perspectives.
And just because you don’t agree on something doesn’t make someone wrong.
Remember, not everybody will share your views and opinions, and that’s totally okay.
You can just agree to disagree and respect your differences.
11. Be More Relatable
Most interactions usually stall when an unfamiliar topic comes up.
That being said, if you want to know how to be less awkward in social situations, try to be relatable.
Make sure whatever you’re going to share adds value to what’s being discussed.
This shows anybody that you talk to that you’re socially intelligent.
Also, avoid using jargons when you tell your stories.
These are very specific and technical terms that only another person who does what you do would comprehend.
To fix this issue, always use simple words.
Try to explain complicated ideas in a way that others would understand quickly.
By doing so, you make it easy for people to keep interacting with you.
12. Practice As Much As You Can
Remember, everything worthwhile takes time.
That’s why you have to be patient with yourself.
Not to mention, learning how to be more socially confident is like a muscle.
The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
If you’re wondering how to be less awkward in social situations, you have to put your reps in.
Try to practice your social skills as much as you can.
For example, you can chat with the person you’re sitting with during your commute.
Make small talk with someone you share the elevator with.
Strike up a conversation with the person in front of you when you’re in line to get coffee.
Keep in mind that these small actions add up to something big eventually.
The more people you talk to, the faster you’ll learn how to improve your conversation skills.
13. Be Kind To Yourself
I know it sounds obvious but nobody is good when they’re just starting out.
If you want to figure out how to be less awkward in social situations, you have to practice self-compassion.
Anticipate that you’re going to have a few embarrassing moments.
Just remember that most people are not thinking about you as often as you may assume.
The truth is, everyone’s too focused on themselves anyway.
Even if you do something stupid, most people would’ve forgotten about you by the time they get home.
If you’re wondering how to put yourself out there socially, you have to stop caring so much.
Just focus on what you can do and let go of the rest.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering how to be less awkward in social situations, I just shared with you my best tips.
Feel free to go through them again and implement them as much as you can.
Need More Help?
If you want to become outgoing as a techie introvert, our program might be a fit for you.