Expert Opinions: Three steps successful people take to make friends

There is a common phrase, “it isn’t what you know, but who you know” that leads you to success. Perhaps it is over quoted, but that is because it is so applicable to every situation in life such as work, school or personal relationships. Friends make life easier partly by opening doors that you didn’t know existed. The more friends you have, the more possibilities available to you. Here are three things to get you started that successful people and research have shown to be necessary parts to making friends.

1. Smile

In Dale Carnegie’s best-selling book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Carnegie says that a simple way to make a good impression is to smile. In the book, Carnegie interviewed Charles Schwab, the owner of a multimillion-dollar company who said that his smile has been worth millions of dollars. According to Schwab, actions speak louder than words and a smile says, “I like you, you make me happy. I am glad to see you.”

Charles Reade, a successful and influential author, said that, “Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.” Meaning that your smile is one of the most important tools you can use to make a person like you.

2. Memorize the person’s name

Nothing is more precious to a person than their name. Think about how you felt at a time when you started to talk to someone and they remembered your name from a previous encounter. According to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the brain activates when hearing one’s name even in a noisy and crowded room.

Additionally, Forbes said that addressing a person by name can greatly influence how that person feels about you and the brand that you represent.

3. Make the person feel important

Brian Tracy, the author of “No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline,” outlined seven ways to make other people feel important, which are extremely relevant to making friends. When a person feels important to you, they are more likely to be your friend.

INC said that a good way to make people feel important is to praise them. “Not only will people appreciate your praise, they’ll appreciate the fact you care enough to pay attention to what they’re doing.”

Final Thoughts

It seems to be common knowledge that friendship is very important; however, I have noticed that most of us don’t go about our days with the intention to make new friends. If we did have that intention, then a lot more people would show compassion toward others and listen to what they have to say. Instead, most people stay glued to their phones and avoid any conversation. Perhaps it is time to start making new friends, which in turn opens new doors and creates new possibilities.