9 Ways to Feel More Comfortable in Groups

Video Description

Practical tips to help you feel comfortable in group settings, even if you’re shy or nervous. Learn how to introduce yourself, connect with others, and make everyone feel included. These techniques work in classrooms, social groups, and even at work. If speaking English is not your first language, these tips will also help you practice and improve your communication skills. https://www.engvid.com/9-ways-to-feel-more-comfortable-in-groups/ Book private classes with me on my website: https://englishwithronnie.com/ Check out more of my lessons about communication skills: How to introduce yourself in a group https://youtu.be/3PE3e0rXSPw Body Language: How to tell if someone is bored or interested! https://youtu.be/3tntO3hZTQY In this lesson: 0:00 Introduction 3:18 Be the connector. 4:39 Include people who know about a topic. 5:46 Speak the same language. 6:23 Talk about general topics. 7:19 Ice breakers → drinking games! 8:54 Latch onto one person. 10:48 Drink! 11:32 Think of a compliment for each person. Transcript: Hey there. I have a confession. I hate groups. I hate being in a group, I hate having to hang out in a group. Anything to do with groups, I'm like done, hate it, get me out of here, Ronnie, no. Maybe I'm socially awkward, I don't know. But this is actually a lesson for me, and you, okay? And the back story of this is I recently joined the gardening community, and it was the first time the group was meeting. So I was on my bike, I get off my bike, and I see all these people, and I'm like, humans, what do I say? And the person who's the leader of the group says, "Hey, what's your name?" I'm like, "I'm Ronnie." "Okay, cool." So I'm like, and, like, hello. So I remember what my friend told me, and she's not shy like I am. She says, "Ronnie, when you go in a group, first thing you do, introduce yourself to everyone." Oh man, okay, I can do that. So, first person I see sitting down, "Hey, I'm Ronnie, nice to meet you." Huh, no response, okay. Next person, "Hey, I'm Ronnie, nice to meet you." "Oh, hey, my name's..." Oh, okay, this person talks, good, okay, good. Next, I'm like, I'm not going to remember anyone's names, but hold on. I went to every single person in that group, I think there were seven people, could be six, I don't know, don't remember. And this works like a charm. Why? Because when you're in a situation where there's a whole group of people that don't know each other, everyone feels uncomfortable, because a simple thing like of knowing the person's name, it makes you go, oh, okay, I know that person's name now. If you make the effort to introduce yourself, then the people feel more comfortable with you. They know your name, and this is the best technique, you can suss people out. Now, this might be a new word for you. To suss people out or sniff them out, you can kind of determine if the people, you see what people you like or dislike. So, I give everyone I meet a chance, I'm like, cool, everyone's weird, everyone's awesome. But some people, when I introduce myself to them, they're like, oh, this person's boring. Next person. So I can determine what people I think are cool, what people I want to hang out with in the group. And everyone has their own opinion, so, you know, this person thinks this person's cool, I don't, that's fine. You don't have to like everyone, remember that. And you don't have to think everyone's boring, but if they are, that's cool. So, I do this, and I'm like, hey, this is a group, but I notice that nobody else does this. More people come and join the group, I rock up, hey, I'm Ronnie, nice to meet you, blah, blah, blah. Remember, people, I'm shy, okay? So don't give me the excuse, like, I'm shy, it's like, me too, but make the effort, especially if English, if you're in a group of people that English is not your first language, okay? Second one, be the connector. So, I already told you to introduce yourself. Now, what you're going to do, and what I should have done is I should have been like, "Hey, Julie, have you met Trevor?" No, you haven't. Julie, meet Trevor. And by introducing people, you know, okay, so Julie, here's Kevin, blah, blah, blah, people are shy. They need you to be the connector, because you've already come in the group and been like, hey, I'm Ronnie, blah, blah, and people go, oh, okay, Ronnie knows people, yeah. So they're shy, they're like, oh, I really want to meet... I really want to meet Kevin. So I'm like, hey, Julie, come here, come and meet Kevin. Oh, hey, what's up? So you connect people together, and that helps them. It helps the group become better. Now, you might think, well, Ronnie, like, what... Where would I ever use this? I don't... I don't go out drinking, I don't go to pubs, I'm not really a group situation. Are you a teacher? Hello. Or do you want to be a teacher? This is important classroom stuff, too. You're in a classroom, you've got a group of people, they're nervous, they're shy […]