If you want to make female friends, this article is going to be helpful for you. A lot of people believe the process of becoming friends with a male person is the same as with a female, but there actually are a few differences you’ll want to keep in mind.
The differences are very subtle and minor. You also won’t need to alter a personality or two just to make female friends. There are just a few differences in approach you’ll need to remember whenever you approach a woman in order to befriend her, whether you’re a male or a female. This said, here’s how to properly make female friends.
Know the difference between being friendly and being flirty
There’s a fine line between being friendly and being flirty. If you wish to make female friends, this is a line you need to understand. It’s easy to fall into the trappings of being flirty, making them misunderstand you when in reality, you were just trying to be friendly with them.
That said, don’t do things a person might do to win another person’s romantic affections. For example, you can ask them out, but never insinuate that it’s a date. You can invite others with you, you can take them to a casual place, etc. Don’t ask about their romantic history unless they specifically talk about it. Let it be known that you’re simply being friendly, not by saying it, but by actually showing it.
Don’t be intimidated
A lot of people become intimidated with they try to make female friends. Avoid this. Especially if you’re a male, making female friends can be as simple as making male friends. If you’re a female, however, intimidation can still come, but it can take another form.
Whatever that case is, remove the idea of being intimidated. We’re all humans, after all, regardless of sex. If you want to make female friends, go for it. They’ll welcome you if you treat them properly.
Be a better listener
Being a good listener is vital if you want to make female friends. In fact, it’s vital if you want to make friends regardless of sex. That said, practice being a better listener. Find meaning behind the words the other person is saying. Don’t simply hear someone say something without interpretation. Find the reason behind their words.
A person will appreciate you greatly if you’re able to listen to them intently. Be this kind of person moving forward. It will do well for your social life and it will even extend to the other aspects of your life including your personal, professional, and romantic life.
Learn the art of conversation
Conversations are extremely powerful, especially when it comes to socializing. Unfortunately, many people underestimate its potential. People see conversations as this casual interaction, and even though it is, it is also so much more.
Conversations are your way of turning strangers into friends. It’s how you create experiences and memories. It’s how you form bonds. That said, learn the art of conversation and its many faces. Learn small talk, learn how to ask questions, learn how to answer questions, learn how to tell stories, etc. Be sure to take the time to read our materials for that as we cover a lot of topics revolving around conversations.
Be more empathetic
Empathy is another powerful tool when it comes to making friends. That said, practice how to be more empathetic, if you’re not that type of person yet. If you are, then you can surely benefit from practicing even more.
Whenever you’re in a conversation with another person, always try to picture yourself in their shoes. Think about what it would be like to live in those moments… to be them for a few moments. That way, your reactions and responses are genuine and heartfelt.
Be interested in their interests
When it comes to making friends, it’s always a good idea to show interest in the other person’s interests. If their interest is something new to you, take the time to learn it. Not only that, take the time to understand why they’re so into that sort of thing. Then, try getting into it. Who knows? You might actually enjoy it too. Then, you and the other person can start diving into that interest together, which is a great way of blossoming a friendship.
In lucky instances, which happen more often than you think, you’ll encounter someone who has the same interests as you. When this happens, make sure you don’t let it go to waste. Turn that interest into a hook, an initial thing the interaction can revolve around on. Eventually, the two of you will get to know each other more.
Open up to them
If you want to make female friends, you’ll need to be comfortable opening up. Although it is good to be the listener, the receiver, and the giver of advice, it’s also good to open up and be the one to ask for advice.
This isn’t to manipulate the other person into liking you more. Friendships should be a two-way street. You’ll learn a lot about them and they’ll also need to learn a lot about you. With that in mind, find the balance between sharing and receiving. Make the friendship symbiotic.
Show them how much you care
If you want to make friends with anyone, you don’t just say this and hope that automatically makes it true. You’ll also need to actually work on it. Make sure you do things so that the other person feels you truly want to be their friend.
Whenever they make plans, show up. Make plans of your own too. Occasionally give them gifts. Congratulate them on their successes, and be there for them when they’re down. Let them feel your presence and let it be known you’re there for them as a friend. Your actions will speak louder than your words.
Make plans
Speaking of making plans, the other person will greatly appreciate it if you make plans for you both every now and then. Take them to a place you know they’ll be comfortable with. Introduce them to something you feel they’ll enjoy. Free her of the burden of planning and make the planning yourself. That way, all they’ll have to do is attend.
When planning, take a lot of things into consideration. Don’t just plan things for the sake of it. As mentioned, when taking them to a place, make sure it’s a place they’ll be comfortable with. When introducing them to an activity, assess whether or not that is something they’ll enjoy. Make plans, but also be considerate.
Be open to receiving suggestions
Every once in a while, the other person is going to be the one who’ll come up with the plans. Or, they might offer a suggestion when you let them know of yours. When that happens, be open to it. Be open to receiving suggestions. If she has something she has in mind, hear her out. You might actually like her suggestion too.
This has to do with being considerate as well. It won’t be at all times that the other person will brush your plans away for their own suggestions. I’ve said it earlier already and I’ll say it again. Friendships are a two-way street. They’ll sometimes go with your option, and you’ll also need to go with theirs.
Know that it’s okay to give them space
When it comes to making friends, it’s not just about being together every single time. Sometimes, there needs to be space between you both. She has her own personal space and you have yours too. That said, know that it’s okay to give them space. This allows you to take a rest by yourself as well.
If you allow this space to happen, each time you two are together, there’s a sense of reunion, even though that space and time are minute.
Be nice to their other friends
If the woman you’re trying to befriend has other friends too, be sure to be nice to them as well. If you’re slowly becoming friends with that person and you get introduced to her other friends, they technically have friendship superiority over you. Not that this concept exists, but you’ll still need to respect the idea that they’ve been friends long before you came along, so you’ll need to be nice to them in respect to her.
Who knows, you might even be welcomed in their social circle if things work out well.
Be more encouraging
A person who is encouraging is a person worth befriending. Be this kind of person. When the other person is going through something, encourage them that they can get through it. If things are tough in their professional life, be there to encourage them. If the problem is personal and they need you to support them, have their back.
This should go without saying with it comes to friendships, but it’s something you definitely want to keep in mind if you’re just starting to befriend the other person. Friends can be a support system and that’s what you’ll need to be. She’ll do the same for you.
Be neater
This is something minor, but it’s something you’ll need to remember regardless. If you want to make female friends, be neat, hygienic, and always look presentable. Make sure your hair is well-kept, nails are cleaned and trimmed, your smell is pleasant, and your fashion is acceptable. If you have no knowledge of that last aspect, seek out assistance. Many people will be happy to assist you with this.
Take note that you don’t need to be the best-looking person in the room. You just need to look presentable. That’s all it takes. A person will see you as respectable and approachable if you’re presentable.
Make use of texting and chatting
In our day and age, you don’t have to meet someone in person just to talk to them. This should be obvious at this point but remember it regardless. When there’s something you want to say to the other person, whether it’s urgent or something casual, something serious or something funny, and it can’t wait until the next time you see each other, tell them over text or chat.
This will also let them feel how interested you are in interacting with them even though you’re not together. Just remember not to overdo it. You can text and chat with them whenever you want, but don’t bombard their phones with messages.
Introduce them to things that are of interest to you
Just as you’re showing interest to take a dive into the things that interest them, you should also allow them to see the things that interest you. Let them see and experience the things you enjoy. Once again, two-way street.
Initially, just let them know about your interest. If they become interested in it, then go a bit more in-depth. Introduce it to them even further. However, in some cases, it won’t be to their liking, and that’s okay. In fact, you might also find some of their interests not suitable to you. That’s okay too. The important thing is that you both know what the other enjoys. If that crosses over, then good! If not, then there’s nothing to be worried about.
Don’t rush it
When it comes to making friends, regardless of who it is, be sure to never rush it. Friendships can take time to blossom. You need to allow it to work its pace. Remember, you need to give the other person space too. Don’t force the both of you to hang out every single day so that you can be friends with them faster. That’s not how friendships work.
With that in mind, just be patient. You both will find a pace you’re both comfortable with. No matter what that pace is, the friendship shared between you two will flourish on its own.
Improve your overall social skills
Finally, to properly make female friends or any friends for that matter, the best thing you can do for yourself is to improve your social skills. Having the correct set of social skills will help you befriend anyone you want, for as long as the other person is open to meeting new friends. From conversations and social anxieties to the most obscure social tips, you’ll find things to learn on this site.
That said, be sure to take the time to read the other articles on this site after you’ve completed this one. Good luck!