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Originally Posted by OhioCouple ...I ran across this article today that has some pointers on how to make folks feel accepted as if they were at home...
-Tell about a slightly embarassing story about yourself. Admit that you don't know some things, or that you are clumsy. |
This suggestion really stood out because I had an experience that taught me some people use this for self-aggrandizement.
True story: Mr LM and I went to dinner with a couple, she was the quieter of the two, he appeared a good conversationalist from the outset, however, it didn't take long and he was into his first
"I don't know it all" stories about himself. Mr LM and I both laughed with his story and responded by telling him not to be so hard on himself, we told him he handled himself well, etc.--basically complimenting him and telling him he was okay.
A couple minutes go by and the guy tells another story, ending it with a statement about his being a "klutz" (his word). Again, Mr LM and I joined him in laughing about his very funny tale, told him he wasn't a klutz, and finished off with a comment to make him feel better about himself.
Well this guy did this two more times within a few minutes and Mr LM and I are now sensing this guy isn't really into telling a funny tale, rather, he likes people telling him how great he is. So with his next
"this is embarrassing" story, we justed laughed and left it at that. The guy just waited for his compliment, he was so obvious about it too, there was a dead silence.
His demeanor changed after that. He was a different person to be with when he wasn't in the limelight sharing his self-deprecating stories.
LM