How to Make Friends

Community Q&A

Let's be honest, there are times when you want to know how to make friends. You may be reading
this because you are shy or unsure of how to approach a person. Maybe you are just not confident
because you're afraid people may not react the way you want them to. But it is not very hard to make
friends; it is just what you think it is that makes you not willing to do it. Continue reading to find out
how!

Steps

1.

Spend more time around people. Don't be mean or rude; you do not want to lose any potential
friends. Be nice and friendly. If you want to make friends, you first need to put yourself out there
somehow in order to meet people. If you just sit alone, friends might come to you, but that's not
likely. If you're still in school, sit somewhere with other people. It doesn't have to be the "popular"/
"cool" table, or a crowded one, but one with at least two other people. Hang out with many others.
The popular kids won't matter when you're older, but a true friend will be there for you forever.
Remember, friends seldom come knocking on your door while you sit at home playing on your
laptop. Popular people aren't always going to be mean to you. They just need to know you a little
better.

2.

2
Join an organization or club with people who have common interests. You don't necessarily
need to have a lot of common interests with people in order to make friends with them. In fact, some

of the most rewarding friendships are between two people who don't have much in common at all,
but if you like a specific topic, try searching for just a location. It's a great way to meet new local
people! Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are great way to meet new
people and learn more about the people you meet. When you are chatting just say are you on
Facebook? Or what is your name on Twitter? A church, Mosque, temple or other house of worship is
a great place to start since you have at least have a religious faith in common. However, if you do
enter a religious building, remember to be respectful in the house of their God. Just remember to be
safe on the internet, you don't know who is actually on the other end most of the time. Which is
good.

3.

3
Join a sports team. A common misconception about this is that you have to be really good at
playing a particular sport in order to make friends with others on the team, but not all teams are so

competitive. As long as you enjoy the sport and support your teammates, joining a local team with a
laid-back attitude could be a great way to make new friends. But a sports team isn't the only way. If
you play instruments or sing, try joining a band or choir.

4.

4
Volunteer. Volunteering is also a great way for people of all ages to meet others. By working
together you build bonds with people, and you might meet others who have a passion for changing
things the way you do (a common cause).

5.

5
Talk to people. You can join a club, go to school, or go to church but you still won't make friends if
you don't actually talk to people. By the same token, you don't have to be involved with an
organization to be social, and any time you talk to someone, you have a chance at making a lasting
friend. You can talk to anybody: the clerk at the video store, the person sitting next to you on the
bus, or the person in front of you in the lunch line. Don't be too picky. Most conversations will be a
dead-end of sorts, when you may never talk to that person again, or you just remain
acquaintancesbut once in a while you'll actually make a friend.

6.

6
Make eye contact and smile. If you have an unfriendly countenance, people are less likely to be
receptive to your friendship. Try not squinting (get some glasses), looking bored, frowning or
appearing blankly deadpan, folding your arms (this practically screams "don't talk to me") or hanging
out in a corner; such habits may make you look troubled or disinterested.

7.

7
Start a conversation. There are many ways to do this; a comment about your immediate
environment (The weather is a classic: "At least it's not raining like last week!"), a request for help
("Can you help me carry a few boxes, if you have a minute?" or "Can you help me decide which one
of these is a better gift for my mom?") or a compliment ("That's a nice car." or "I love your shoes.").
Follow up immediately with a related question: Do you like this warm weather? What kinds of gifts do
you normally buy for your mom? Where did you get shoes like that?

8.

8
Make small talk. Keep the 30% talking/70% listening, ratio in mind during small talk when possible.
Keep in mind that this is only a general rule, and that the optimal ratio of listening to talking is
dependent on room temperature, time of day, and number of conversational participants.

9.

9
Introduce yourself at the end of the conversation. It can be as simple as saying "Oh, by the way,
my name is...". Once you introduce yourself, the other person will typically do the same. Remember
his or her name! If you show that you remembered things from your past conversation(s) with the
person, not only will you look intelligent but he or she will see that you were paying attention and are
willing to be a true friend.

10.

10
Initiate a get-together. You can chat your heart out but it won't get you a friend if you don't open up
the opportunity for another conversation or meeting. This is especially important if you meet
someone who you aren't otherwise likely to meet again. Seize the day!

11.

11
Pursue common interests. If you've discovered that the person you're talking to has a common
interest, ask them more about it and, if appropriate, whether they get together with others (in a club,
for example) to pursue this interest. If so, this is a perfect opportunity to ask about joining them. If
you clearly express interest (when? where? can anyone come?) they'll probably invite you. If you
have a club, band, church, etc. that you think they might enjoy, take the opportunity to give them
your number or email address and invite them to join you.

12.

12
Ask them out for lunch or coffee. That will give you a better opportunity to talk and get to know
each other a little bit better. A good way to extend yourself is to say: "Hey, well, I've got to go, but if
you ever want to talk over lunch or coffee or anything like that, let me give you my number/e-mail
address." This gives the person the opportunity to contact you; they may or may not give you their
information in return, but that's fine. Maybe they don't have time for new friendsdon't take it
personally! Just offer your contact information to whoever seems to be potentially a good friend, and
eventually somebody will get in touch.

13.

13
Don't do anything to pressure someone into being friends with you. Never chide acquaintances
for failing to invite you to a party, for example; don't call someone repeatedly or stop by uninvited
(unless you have established that stopping by unannounced is OK); and refrain from overstaying
your welcome anywhere. In general, take friendship slowly, and don't try to force intimacy to grow
quickly. The move from acquaintance to friend can take a long time. It's understandable to want
more of a good thing, but try to err on the side of less. If you are not sure about the pace of your new
friendship, check in with your friend and ask directly. Too much, too fast can be scary or intimidating,
and not everybody is able to say "Slow down..." - instead, they may run the other way!

14.

14
Be loyal to a friend. You've probably heard of fair-weather friends. They're the ones who are happy
to be around you when things are going well, but are nowhere to be found when you really need
them. Part of being a friend is being prepared to make sacrifices of your time and energy in order to
help out your friends. If a friend needs help with an unpleasant chore, or if he or she just needs a
shoulder to cry on, be there. If your friends make a joke, laugh with them. Never complain about a
friend.

15.

15
Be a good friend. Once you've started spending time with potential friends, remember to do your
part (e.g. initiating some of the activities, remembering birthdays, asking how the other person is
feeling) or else the friendship will become unbalanced and an uneasiness or distance is likely to
arise.

16.

16
Be reliable. If you and your friend agree to meet somewhere, don't be late, and donot stand them
up. If you're not going to make it on time or make it at all, call them as soon as you realize
it. Apologize and ask to reschedule. Don't make them wait for you unexpectedly; it's rude, and it is
certainly not a good way to launch a potential friendship. When you say you'll do something, do it. Be
someone that people know that they can count on.

17.

17
Be a good listener. Many people think that in order to be seen as "friend material" they have to
appear very interesting. Far more important than this, however, is the ability to show that
you're interested in others. Listen carefully to what people say, remember important details about
them (their names, their likes and dislikes), ask questions about their interests, and just take the time
to learn more about them. You don't want to be the guy or girl that always has a better story than
anyone else or that changes the subject abruptly instead of continuing the flow of conversation.
These people appear too wrapped up in themselves to be good "one-ups-man-ship" is a put down.

18.

18
Be trustworthy. One of the best things about having a friend is that you have someone to whom
you can talk about anything, even secrets that you hide from the rest of the world. The key to being a
good confidante is the ability to keep secrets, so it's no secret that you shouldn't tell other people
things that were told to you in confidence. Keep in mind that recent studies show that people rarely
keep secrets. Before people even feel comfortable opening up to you, however, you need to build
trust.

19.

19
Choose your friends wisely. As you befriend more people, you may find that some are easier to
get along with than others. While you always give people the benefit of the doubt, sometimes you
realize that certain friendships are unhealthy, such as if a person is obsessively needy or controlling
towards you, constantly critical, or introducing dangers or threats into your life. If this is the case,
ease your way out of the friendship as gracefully as possible. Preoccupy yourself with other things,
such as a newvolunteer opportunity, so that you can honestly say that you don't have enough time in
your schedule to spend time with them (but don't substitute their time for time with other friends; they
may notice and become jealous, and more drama will ensue). Cherish those friends you make who
are a positive influence in your life, and do your best to be a positive influence in theirs.

20.

20
Put emphasis on the good, unique qualities about yourself. Are you funny? If yes, then great, a
little humor always keeps conversation light and happy, and people love to be around someone who
makes them laugh. If you have a quirky, different style of humor then make sure you let them know
that the things you say are in fact a joke, so that you don't just come across as simply weird. This
way they will understand a bit more about you too, which could potentially spark their interest. If you
are a unique person, then show it!

21.

21
Encourage your friend: A very good friend encourages their friend. They will remain with them in
both good as well as bad times. Never ever make fun or laugh at your friend in front of others. If
someone is making fun of them a good friend will come to save or support their friend.

22.

22
Be confident. Many people are not very confident. They are reserved, timid and afraid to start a
conversation. Make the effort and start talking no matter how uncomfortable it feels.

23.

23
Don't separate your friend from the rest of the group. Some people get jealous of their friends if
they talk to other people or make other friends. Most people don't like it and would no longer want to
hang out with you.

24.

24
Keep in touch. Many people often times lose contact with their friends because they're either too
busy, or just don't value their friends enough. When you lose connection with a friend, the friendship
may fizzle out, and when you do try to contact them again, it's hard to rekindle the friendship.

25. 25
Maintaining friendship is hard work. Make time and share your life with them. Be respectful to
their decisions. Being grateful to their kindness and be flexible with their ideas. Strive to keep in
contact overtime. Hope you'll enjoy a lifelong friendship with people you like.

Community Q&A

How do I become friends with someone who is mad at me?

wikiHow Contributor

Try to solve things first, ask to talk to them to see if they will tell you why they are mad. If they won't
tell you, won't talk, or even walk away, you could try at a different time or just let it be but be friendly
every time you meet. Over time, their animosity may decrease when they realize that you're
determined to always be friendly.
Not Helpful 35 Helpful 188

How do I make friends if people think I am rude?

wikiHow Contributor

Perhaps it is only some people who think that you're rude, so you could try to be friends with other
people. If you have difficulty with social interactions for any reason, this may be coming across as
rudeness and you could explain your problem so that others see that you're not being rude on
purpose. Take it slowly, rather than barging in and taking over conversations or activities; let people
observe that you're a great person and worth getting to know.
Not Helpful 11 Helpful 54

How do I make friends when I only have one friend and she gets jealous?
wikiHow Contributor

If she gets super jealous, then she isn't really a friend to you, you are a friend to her. A friend
understands you. However, all friends get jealous sometimes, and it can help to talk to her first to let
her know that she is your best friend but that it might be nice to have a few other friends in your
friendship circle. At least you've given her a heads up and considered her feelings, so if she still gets
jealous, then maybe she's a little too possessive.
Not Helpful 26 Helpful 106

How do I make friends if I am shy when meeting new people?

wikiHow Contributor

Try not to think about what they will think of you. Also, consider talking about something you are
familiar with; this will make the conversation more comfortable for you. Lastly, you can always let the
other person talk and listen to them; some people love to talk and need good listeners.
Not Helpful 22 Helpful 91

How do I make friends when everyone makes fun of me?

wikiHow Contributor

Don't let other people's actions make you think you can't make friends! Try to ignore them as best
you can and continue being yourself. You will inevitably make friends, probably better ones!
Not Helpful 40 Helpful 149

How do I make friends when I'm shy and/or ugly?

wikiHow Contributor

Don't think down about yourself! The more you think this way about yourself, the more you convince
yourself it's true. Develop confidence and keep your head high. Find people who have similar
interests as you, or join a club/sports team if you're concerned about being lonely at a new school.

And most of all, tell yourself you are beautiful. The more you do this the more you believe it, and
eventually you'll start seeing your beauty shine.
Not Helpful 25 Helpful 97

What are some tips for dealing with a friend who never spends time with you?
wikiHow Contributor

Try calling your friend. Once you are together, use "I" Language to express your feelings, like "I miss
you and I want to spend more time with you." Listen to why they've been busy, without blaming
them, and see where the conversation takes you.
Not Helpful 30 Helpful 113

How do you make friends when everyone hates me and said they hate me?
wikiHow Contributor

Don't keep listening to people who say they hate you as they're being intimidating and self-interested
in seeing you hurt. This nasty sentiment can't be coming from everyone. There must be someone
out there who likes you for who you are, it just means you now have a good reason to start looking.
Broaden your idea of who could be your friend and you'll find one.
Not Helpful 31 Helpful 111

How do I make friends if no one wants to talk to me?

wikiHow Contributor

Look for a more welcoming group of people by joining a club or sports team. Think about ways you
can make yourself more approachable. Some people will be jerks no matter what, but others might
just not realize you're looking for friends.
Not Helpful 8 Helpful 37

Do you have any tips on how to be less timid when trying to make new friends?
wikiHow Contributor

Be confident. The people you'd like to become your friends are humans, just like you. They have the
same desire to connect and make friends too. With this in mind, you may feel a little more reassured
that it's okay to reach out and at least try. You've nothing to lose and you might just make a friend.
Not Helpful 9 Helpful 40

Show 64 more questions

Ask a Question
Submit

Tips

Don't stick to one person. Mingle with lots of groups so if a friend turns on you, you can fall back on
your other friends.

Put your friends before yourself that's what real friends do and also how you keep real good friends.

Assume that everyone you meet will be nice. This will make you less shy to talk to them and it will
allow you to be nicer as well. If they end up not liking you, it's their fault and they are missing out on
what could have been a great friend.

Give your friend space. You don't have to see your friend 24/7.

Get around fun, and confident, people.

Give them a nice big hug when they are sad.

Don't judge people. Try to know more about them before forming an opinion.

Sometimes, try to see the world in their point of view and show yours, this can really help know more
about each other and can improve friendships

Be honest with them.

Try to make friends with someone sitting near you or someone who look lonely. They might really be
able to use some help.
Show 22 more tips

Warnings

Don't talk behind their backs.

Never leave an old good friend because you may like someone else more.

Don't start fights

Never ditch your friends