How to Make Friends at Work and School?

Perhaps it may not be surprising that while working as a College professor, I have received numerous questions over the years. What is surprising, however, is one of the top three questions I get every year and each semester is, “How do I get to meet and get to know more people and how do I make new friends?” The advice I give is simple, do what worked in kindergarten – questions and compliments.

The 2-part strategy for friendship is to (1) ask questions - to help you find people who share similar interests and hobbies and understand who knows the best places to eat, drink, and hangout and 2) give compliments - let others know that you like the way that someone expresses themselves in a meeting or class and make others more receptive to connecting with you.

The final ingredients in the friendship recipe include patience, kindness, mutual respect, self-confidence, and time.

This week do just one thing that stretches you outside your comfort zone. Try to put yourself in a new social setting, join that group of friends that meets at the bar on the corner each Friday at 5:30 p.m. Do big and small things to engage others by asking questions and giving compliments. Soon you will find your confidence to attract and engage others is possible and will happen when you take the risk to put yourself out there in new and different ways.