It’s easy to think that having lots of friends is the goal, but really you want to make meaningful connections. It’s all about relationships.
How can you find new friends? Here are some tips.
1. Meet people where they already are.
Go to places where your friends already hang out. Clubs, coffee shops, sports events, etc. Don’t try to find new friends by going to new places.
2. Be open to making friends.
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make. They think that they need to be friendly to everyone, and in order to be friendly they need to talk to people first.
This isn’t true. If you’re shy, go straight to a group of people you want to talk to. Don’t force yourself into a conversation with someone who doesn’t want to talk.
3. Be selective about your friends.
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many cool people through my career. However, there are plenty of people who I would have liked to have met, but I just wasn’t able to make any lasting connections.
The trick is to only make friends with people who you genuinely enjoy being around.
4. Get to know your friends.
As the old saying goes, “friends don’t let friends drive drunk”. As a rule of thumb, make sure you know the person well before you let them borrow your car or invite them to your house.
5. Treat every new friend like gold.
If you make a new friend, treat him or her like you would a close friend. Give them your undivided attention and listen to what they have to say.
6. Have fun.
This is a key part of finding new friends. When you’re meeting new people, have fun. It’s easy to focus too much on what you want to accomplish, but you’ll actually accomplish much more if you’re having fun.