How to Greet People Without It Being Awkward
- 1). Stand near the person you want to greet, but don’t invade his space. Stand about a foot away, and don’t touch him unless you have a close relationship.
- 2). Avoid interrupting a conversation that’s already happening. Wait until an appropriate time to start talking. Stand at a spot away from the people talking, because just standing there during their conversation interrupts it too.
- 3). Greet the person with a “hey,” “hello,” handshake or hug, depending on your relationship.
- 4). Make eye contact, but avoid staring. Seem confident yet relaxed, even if you are nervous about talking to the person. And don't forget to smile.
- 5). Ask “how are you?” “what’s up” or “how’s it going?” These are standard greetings used to start a conversation.
- 6). Introduce yourself if she doesn’t know you. Share your name and inquire as to hers. This puts her at ease.
- 7). Act respectful. Tailor what you say and how you act based on the person. You may tell that slightly off-color joke to your 15-year-old friend, but not to your grandma.
- 8). Tell him why you approached him, if you have a specific reason. For example, you might say, “I saw your presentation earlier, and I wanted to tell you how much I liked it.” If you’re talking to a stranger, it’s important to be brief and clear about the purpose of your conversation. The exception is if you are talking to someone you may have an interest in dating. Then you should be more subtle; saying, "I was thinking you might make a great boyfriend. How does that sound?” is not likely to get you the response you want.
- 9). Accept that not everyone will respond positively to your greeting. That’s okay. Don’t let fear of rejection keep you from greeting people, but also accept that some greetings will be awkward. As long as you’re respectful of the person, the consequences of the awkward greeting are likely to be nothing more serious than embarrassment or slight disappointment.
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