You have always been told not to talk to strangers. While this is good advice as a child and perhaps even a teen, I’ve found that too many adults hold onto their mothers instructions and stay away from strangers. I believe this severely limits their scope of understanding and closes many doors that are meant to be open. My challenge is to help convince you that the world of people out there, your neighbors, co-workers, the people on the street, are all a unique and beautiful web of opportunities. Opportunities for business, friendship, entrepreneurship and even more.
Networking has long been held up as one of the most powerful ways to get a leg up in the business world, but to be fair, networking is powerful in all situations. Some people may be comfortable going to a networking event, but completely reluctant to network or approach strangers outside of the “safety” and organization of a social event. The only way to grow up and out of the fear of networking anywhere is to first recognize the immense possibility it offers as well as the many ways it can benefit your interpersonal skills.
So here they are; Three reasons to talk to strangers.
- Its Free
- You Might Strike Gold
- Sharpens Interpersonal skills
Having a conversation with someone is absolutely free. Even if you don’t know them, or don’t even feel like you have the need to talk to them. If you are in physical proximity to someone there is generally no reason you can’t strike up a conversation. You never know what the return on your conversational investment may be. The problem with this is that so many people follow the conventional unspoken rule of not speaking unless they feel they “need to”. Throw this out the window and you will be amazed at the conversations you can have.
Secondly, you might strike gold. Why do you think gold miners and prospectors in the gold rush spent so much time sifting through dirt and rocks that to anyone else seemed worthless. It was because they knew that finding that one fleck of gold in the pan was worth it. Obviously all humans have intrinsic value, but sometimes it takes many short conversations with strangers until you make a solid connection with another. Why sift through conversational dust? The gold is out there, and it’s worth it. One good connection can take you places you never thought you could go.
Finally, talking to strangers sharpens your conversational and networking skills. It helps re-train your brain to not be afraid of those short or sometimes awkward interactions, because you learn how to talk to all sorts of people. Your golden connection might come through a person you would have looked at and thought “I have no reason to talk to him, he doesn’t even look like he works for a corporation. For heavens sake he might be the janitor here!” Just when you think you know who someone is or where they are in life, you quickly realize you can be very wrong.
So next time you’re in an elevator, a bus, a plane, a train, an airport, a lobby, a school, a sports game…talk to someone. Pick a person you don’t know, who society would tell you that you have no reason to talk with, and start that conversation. Calling all extroverts: let’s reverse this notion that its not OK to talk to strangers. As adults, the ability to talk to strangers can present some of the best relationships, life experiences, and business opportunities one could possibly imagine.
testacr22
It’s interesting that one of the biggest rules our parents taught us is the opposite once we reach adulthood. Talking to strangers is the only way to expand out network and get to know other people beyond just business.
Ed, this is one of the best posts I have read so far. This is such an amazing reminder to go against the grain of society and talk to the people we would normally not have any interest in interacting with. These conversations could be so fruitful and teach us amazing things.