Friendships are great for our mental health, but it’s not always easy to befriend someone. In this guide, we’ll look at some strategies to help you start and build a friendship. You’ll also learn about a method that’s been scientifically proven to build a bond between two strangers in under an hour and how to use it in real life to become friends with someone.
Sections
- How to become friends with someone
- The Fast Friends protocol
- Using it in real life
- The scientist behind the experiment
- Your next steps
- Common questions
How to become friends with someone quickly
1. Show that you are friendly
Even if your conversation skills are good, you are unlikely to make friends with someone if you appear unapproachable.
Being approachable means:
- Making confident eye contact
- Using open body language, for example, keeping your arms and legs uncrossed
- Smiling when you greet someone or say goodbye
- Daring to be warm towards other people; try to assume they will like you
If you feel nervous, it may feel hard to relax and be friendly. But remember that nervousness is a feeling. It doesn’t have to determine your actions. Just as you can feel bored but still work or study, you can feel anxious yet still socialize anyway.
2. Start your interactions with small talk
When you use small talk, you are sending a reassuring message: “I know basic social norms, I’m open to interaction, and I’m friendly.” Small talk may seem like a waste of time, but you only have to do it for a few minutes. Think of it as the first step towards becoming friends with someone.
Once you’ve established a basic level of trust, you can move to a deeper conversation. You will probably find it easier to talk to someone if you already know that you have something in common. If you want to make more friends, start by joining groups or meetups based on your interests.
3. Disclose things about yourself
Mutual self-disclosure builds liking and rapport. In one study, the more participants disclosed about themselves to a partner, the more socially attractive they were perceived to be.[1]
When someone asks you a question, give enough detail to keep the conversation going. For example, if someone asks, “What did you do at the weekend?” a very short answer like “Not much, really” doesn’t give the other person anything to work with. A more detailed answer outlining a couple of activities you did would be better.
If you worry that others will judge you, it can be hard to share your thoughts and feelings. If you work on improving your confidence and self-esteem, self-disclosure may feel more comfortable.
You don’t have to disclose very personal information to someone you’ve just met. It’s best to start with slightly personal opinions or information. You can venture into deeper topics after building trust. For example, “I get a bit nervous at large events like this,” or “I like movies, but I love books because I find it easier to get lost in written stories” give others an insight into your personality without oversharing.
4. Encourage others to share about themselves
When you talk to someone, aim to have a balanced conversation. It doesn’t have to be exactly 50:50, but you should both have an opportunity to share.
To encourage someone to open up:
- Ask open questions that invite them to give answers beyond “Yes” or “No.” For example, “How was your trip?” is better than “Did you have a good time on your trip?”
- Ask follow-up questions that invite them to share more details, e.g., “And then what happened?” or “How did that work out in the end?”
- Use brief utterances like “Mm-hm” and “Oh?” to encourage them to keep talking and show that you are listening.
- Adopt an attitude of curiosity. Allow yourself to be genuinely interested in the other person. This will make it easier to come up with things to say. For example, if they mention their college course, you might wonder whether they are enjoying it or what career they hope to have after graduation. Focusing on the other person also has the benefit of taking the focus off yourself, which can help you feel less shy.
- Give the conversation your full attention. Don’t look at your phone or gaze at something else in the room.
5. Find things in common
People tend to find other people likable when they share some similarities, such as hobbies and beliefs.[2]
Try introducing a range of topics when you want to connect with someone. You can usually make some educated guesses about what someone might like to talk about within a few minutes of meeting them. If any of these potential topics overlap with your interests, try introducing them into the conversation and see if you can find any common ground.
For example, let’s say you love animals. You own a dog, and you volunteer at your local pet shelter.
You’re chatting to a new acquaintance, and they mention that although they now work in marketing, they used to work in a pet store part-time when they were in school. You could make an educated guess that they probably like animals, so steering the conversation around to this topic could pay off. If they didn’t seem interested, you could then move on to another subject.
When making friends online, join communities that are based on your interests. Make it easy for someone to start a conversation with you by sharing a few things about yourself on your profile.
6. Be agreeable
Agreeable people are more likely to experience “friendship chemistry”—a feeling of “clicking” with a potential new friend—than less agreeable people.[2]
Agreeable people:
- Are slow to criticize or condemn other people
- Do not play devil’s advocate unless the other person is clearly interested in having a debate
- Ask questions in good faith when they want to learn more about someone else’s perspective or experiences
- Are generally optimistic and friendly
- Are not pedantic
Remember that being agreeable isn’t the same as being a pushover. If you need to get better at defending your boundaries or standing up for yourself, check out our guide on what to do if you’re being treated like a doormat.
7. Use banter and jokes to bond with someone
Research shows that sharing a humorous moment can increase closeness between two people who have only just met.[3]
You don’t need to be a gifted comedian to use humor in a conversation. You just want to show that you can appreciate the lighter side of life or appreciate the funny side of a situation. Don’t rely on canned jokes or one-liners; they often come across as clumsy or as though you’re trying too hard.
8. Match the other person’s energy level
People who feel a sense of connection to one another often behave and move in a similar way. This is called “behavioral synchrony.”[4] But mirroring someone else’s movements can be difficult and can become awkward, so trying to mimic someone when you’re talking to them isn’t a good idea.
Instead, try to match their overall energy level. For example, if they are in an upbeat mood, smiling, and speaking quickly about positive topics, try to behave in a similar way. We have more examples and advice in this article on how to be chill or energetic in social situations.
9. Ask the other person for their advice
When you ask for advice about a personal situation, you can disclose something about yourself, which invites them to disclose something in return. Asking for advice also gives them an opportunity to share their personal experiences and opinions in a way that feels natural.
Make sure you are truly interested in their advice. Don’t pretend to be enthusiastic or make up a backstory for the sake of it, or you may come across as fake.
For example, let’s say you are unhappy in your job and you’re thinking of retraining in a new profession. If you’re talking to someone who has mentioned that they retrained as a nurse in their 30s after a decade working in IT, you could ask them for advice on choosing a new career.
They might open up about what they liked about nursing school, how they choose their college, and what they most enjoy about their new vocation. From there, you could start talking about personal goals, values, and what you want most from life.
10. Ask for small favors
You might assume that doing favors for someone else will make them like you, but it can work the other way around: research shows that helping someone in a small way can make us more inclined to like them.[5][6]
For example, when talking to someone, you could:
- Ask them to lend you a pen
- Ask them to look something up on their phone
- Ask them for a tissue
11. Share a meal
Research shows that when people eat together, they have more positive social interactions and perceive each other as more agreeable.[7]
If you’re talking to someone and it’s nearly time for a coffee break or meal, ask them to eat with you. For example, you could say, “I could use a coffee after that meeting, maybe a sandwich too. Would you like to come with me?” or “Oh look, it’s nearly lunchtime! Would you like to have this conversation over lunch?”
12. Spend quality time together
It takes around 200 hours of shared quality time to become good friends.[8] The more often you hang out, the more quickly you’ll become friends. But don’t try to rush the process by pressuring someone to hang out all the time. In general, hanging out once per week is often enough when you’re getting to know someone.
Shared experiences are also key to building long-distance friendships. You can hang out online, for example, by playing a game, watching a movie, or taking a virtual tour of an attraction.
When you meet someone you click with, take the initiative and exchange contact details. Follow up within a couple of days and ask them to hang out. Pick an activity that relates to a shared interest.
Stay in touch between meetings. Talking over text, social media, or on the phone can help build and maintain your friendship. This article on how to become friends with someone over text might be helpful.
The Fast Friends Protocol
Scientists at Stony Brook University in New York have designed a method where two strangers can build a close connection in less than 60 minutes.
What researchers call the Fast Friends procedure[9] will not only help you build deep relationships quickly, but it also helps you know what to say next in a conversation. Professionals such as police, interrogators, and psychologists have learned how to build trust and befriend strangers rapidly based on these findings.
The Fast Friends procedure works best when you’re talking to someone one-on-one and face-to-face. This means the procedure is perfect to use when you meet friends over a cup of coffee, while traveling, or at a party. You could even use this method with people that you have known for a long time to strengthen your existing friendship. The best part is that you can use it with anyone, including business colleagues, an old friend, or even a relative you’d like to get closer to.
The Fast Friends Experiments
At Stony Brook, researchers have tested the Fast Friends procedure again and again and have found that it’s an efficient way to feel comfortable with someone. It’s been shown repeatedly that this procedure to make someone your friend works and that it has long-lasting effects. Different variations of the original experiment have shown that the Fast Friends questions are even successful in creating cross-cultural friendships[10] and increasing intimacy within a couple.[11]
The original Fast Friends experiment was completed in 3 parts:
Part 1: Establishing the relationship
Strangers are randomly put into pairs. Each participant is handed 3 sets of 12 questions. Participants in each pair take turns answering and asking the questions. They’re encouraged to be as honest as possible without making themselves feel uncomfortable.
The questions are increasingly intimate, with more “shallow” questions toward the front of the deck and more “intimate” questions at the end.
This process takes around one hour. Once they’re done with the 36 questions, they’re sent their separate ways and are asked not to contact each other while the experiment is still going on.
Part 2: Creating intimacy
During this next meeting, the couple is asked to repeat the process described above, but with a different set of 36 questions.
Again, they’re asked to not contact each other until the experiment is completed.
Part 3: Friends or just friendly?
The participants are given the chance to collect contact information from their partners. More often than not, participants want to keep in touch with their partners and see them again after the experiment is over.
If you came into this experiment to make a friend, you were almost guaranteed to leave with one. The participants weren’t just cordial or friendly to each other; they wanted to keep in touch and continue their friendship because what they experienced simulates the same experience that otherwise takes months or years for friends to go through.
Some of the questions that the researchers used:
The first set of 12 questions the researchers used was shallow and basically scratched the surface. The questions are designed to get the participants warmed up:
- Would you like to be famous? In what way?
- What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
- When did you last sing to yourself or to someone else?
The second set of 12 questions used was to let the participants become close friends in a less superficial way:
- What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
- What is your most terrible memory?
- If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
The last set of 12 questions is where the real friendship building happens. These are questions that even best friends don’t always ask each other. By asking and answering these questions, participants get to know each other fast:
- What things are too personal to discuss with others?
- If you were guaranteed honest responses to any 3 questions, who would you question, and what would you ask?
- Do you believe in any sort of God? If not, do you think you might still pray if you were in a life-threatening situation?
Of course, the researchers didn’t start the questioning with philosophical questions about their beliefs because that would scare participants off. The key to using the Fast Friends procedure is to ask intentional questions from the start, disclose information about yourself to establish trust, and then dig deeper to get to the good stuff.
Using the Fast Friends protocol in real life
Psychologists carry out experiments under heavily controlled conditions that are usually similar to real-life scenarios. Sitting down with a new person and a deck full of flashcards might not be everyone’s idea of a good first meetup.
Here’s how to apply the principles from the Fast Friends procedure to your real life:
1. Start with superficial questions
During a period that can be as brief as 45 minutes, you’ll go through a series of questions that gradually become more and more personal. In the lab, participants read questions from a set of cards. In the real world, you have to come up with relevant questions on the fly throughout your ongoing conversation.
Remember that the Fast Friends procedure works because of its progressive nature. It’s important that you start off with fairly superficial questions and progress to deeper questions over time. After about 10-25 minutes of small talk, you can start asking about more personal matters if the person you’re talking to seems receptive.
2. Ask something that is slightly personal
Make sure that you relate the question to what you are currently talking about so the question won’t feel forced.
For example, say that your friend is talking about an unpleasant phone call he or she recently had to make. You can ask, “When you make a telephone call, do you ever rehearse it beforehand?”
After your friend has answered, remember to reciprocate and disclose something personal as well. You could say something along the lines of, “I actually rehearse several times when I’m about to call someone I don’t know that well, too.”
If your questions become too personal too quickly, they might be perceived as unpleasant, probing, and scary, so take your time and trust the process. You’ll get closer and start bonding as time goes on.
3. Start asking about deeper matters
After about 30 minutes of talking, you can start to go deeper. Again, make sure that the questions are relevant to what you’re discussing.
If you’re talking about family, an example of a deeper question could be, “How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?” Give your friend the time to answer if they feel comfortable doing so and answer the same question that you asked them. Give them the time to ask you follow-up questions, too.
4. Ask even more personal questions
If the conversation is going well, you can go even more personal. You could talk about a vulnerability if they previously mentioned their insecurities and ask something like, “When was the last time you cried in front of someone else?”
If you have gradually gotten to know each other through the easier but still personal questions, then it’s fine to ask deep questions without them feeling unnatural. Your friend will let you know at any point if they want to continue the conversation or not.
Remember to reveal as many personal things about yourself as your friend is disclosing. You can even switch the order of the questions (like in the original experiment) and start off by revealing something personal about you and then asking the person a related personal question. If you reveal personal things first, your friend should become more comfortable opening up to you.
The Fast Friends procedure works because it mimics the way that relationships actually develop. Though the description above is helpful, you don’t have to use the full method in every conversation you have with a new person to get to know them better. You just need to keep the conversation interesting.
A word from the scientist behind the experiment
To get a deeper understanding of how the method works, we asked one of the developers of this procedure, Dr. Elizabeth Page-Gould in the Psychology Department at the University of Toronto, two questions.
Dr. Elizabeth Page-Gould
Here’s what she had to say:
What is your advice or precaution to people who want to use the Fast Friend Procedure principles in their personal life to make friends?
When entering a new social group (i.e., meeting people for the first time), it’s always helpful to have some questions like the Fast Friends questions to get the conversation rolling.
Generally, people like to talk about themselves, and they will appreciate that you want to know more about them. The two things to remember, though, are that not everyone is the same, and there is a big difference between interacting with a stranger and interacting with a friend.
In my research, some people become stressed during the first Fast Friends session, although pretty much everyone becomes comfortable by the second time they do the Fast Friends with another person.
So, you always have to feel a new interaction partner: back off if they seem like they don’t want to share, and be sure that you reciprocate in kind by sharing equivalent levels of information with them. For the most part, people like to be asked about themselves, especially with questions that are somewhat unique and quirky!
In short, what do you think it is in the procedure that makes it so effective?
The Fast Friends procedure is effective because it mimics the way friendships develop naturally. When you first meet someone, you move beyond mere strangers by getting to know one another. The other person may tell you a little bit more about themselves, then you respond in kind by telling them a little more about you, and the process continues back and forth like that. The Fast Friends procedure just formalizes and accelerates this process!
Your Next Steps
So, do you want to use the Fast Friends procedure in real life? Here’s what you need to do to make it work for you:
- Comment below telling us your thoughts on the Fast Friends procedure and if you’ve used any similar technique before
- Find a person you’d like to be friends with or get to know better
- Start a conversation with the person and make small talk
- Begin to ask your friend questions related to the conversation
- Listen to what your partner says and disclose information about yourself
- Continue asking questions in increasing intimacy to get to know the deep stuff about each other
- Celebrate because you’ve made a lasting friend!
Common questions
How do you become best friends with someone?
It usually takes roughly 200 hours of social contact to become better friends with someone.[8] This has to be quality time where you have the chance to get to know each other. To build the trust and intimacy required to become close friends, you also need mutual vulnerability, respect, and loyalty.
How long does it take to become friends with someone?
It takes approximately 50 hours of social contact to turn an acquaintance into a friend.[8] However, research suggests that if you are both willing to ask and answer personal questions that encourage self-disclosure, you can develop a connection much faster.
How do you develop a friendship?
Show a genuine interest in your friend’s life and experiences. Ask them questions that encourage them to open up and be ready to open up in return. Be prepared to make an effort to stay in touch and ask them to hang out regularly. Show that you are willing to listen and help them in times of need.
How do you bond with new friends?
Mutual self-disclosure and sharing experiences are effective ways to bond with a new friend. Look for things you have in common and suggest activities based on your shared interests. Taking a trip, sharing a meal, or going on a short adventure together can also help you feel closer.
I’ve just moved to Birmingham never been here in my life we had to move because of work I am so lonely Because I don’t know anybody and on the very friendly person that gets on with everybody so if anyone wants to leave me a message please do so
I’ve just moved to Birmingham never been here in my life we had to move because of work I am so lonely I moved here on the 4th of June this year and I don’t know anyone I’m really out of my comfort zone and it’s making me really depressed and anxious to go out I don’t know if anyone on here knows where there is places
It all sounds great in print but off the cuff just leaves me a babbling mess. The slightest hint of disinterest and I’m too nervous to carry on. Plus, I just don’t ever have an opportunity to try it out-no friends.
Me too. If I sense disinterest I drop my own interest. I used make friends easily then I moved to a new country and I can’t seem to make a real friend.
I love this! Over the past 2 months, met a friend through another and we clicked! Helps that we are the same age, actually grew up in the same neighborhood, though we didn’t know each other and had mutual childhood friends.
Our friendship has grown very quickly in the past 2 months, and we would prob consider each other good friends. Looking back, this is exactly how it progressed. Obviously, it helped that we had way way too much in common (background, proximity, likes, interests, life, family) , so that helped with the superficial questions.
I’d say to ppl that this helps, because at least you know what you have in common and don’t. If you don’t, you can move on to find someone that you do have something in common, which will make it easier to get to the deeper questions.
If someone isn’t asking you questions about yourself, then they aren’t interested in being your friend. That’s ok, find someone worthy of your friendship.
Lena Updating here, as it’s now been a year since I met my friend. Being vulnerable and self-disclosure has definitely accelerated the pace, and she is definitely one of my closest friends. Asking these types of questions forces you to be vulnerable and get out of your own comfort zone.
after I ask a question, how should i react?
Can you explain in detail what you mean? Describe the situation.
i am dying of loneliness at 45 in a snobby city and i don’t work or get out much anymore. i just got out of a 10 year relationship with a narcissist sociopath. I’ve tried to make friends for years now in my building and at events and even online-even though I’ve been used and hurts so many times i keep trying. I’m a good person with alot to offer loyal and honest and funny and intelligent and generous. i used tohave a good group of core friends but death and finding out they are using me took it all away. what’s going on?? I’m into psychology so i know the dos and don’ts- but no matter what i either end up with nothing past hello and goodbye or hostility. What is wrong with me? Everyone else seems content with social media or the occasional hello or dinner- i want a community where people drop by and call and talk and laugh without having to go to a structured social media event. Where us my tribe?
i can be your online friend you can find me on facebook or email
Same! Only I haven’t left the narcissist. I still have 2 girls at home. It’s been a year since you posted. How are things?
I agree. Nobody I met seems to need anymore friends. They only want acquaintances.
I would like to try this method, but I have real problems with knowing the limits of what may be considered too personal and am constantly afraid of making situations worse, that I would be too reluctant to proceed.
Instead I stay quiet, closed or reserved, leading to people seeing me as aloof or stand-ofish and then avoiding the awkwardness of trying to communicate with me.
I have the exact same problem as you. I had no idea whether the words that I’d say are too personal or too daring to be said when I just know them. I constantly feel like an outsider and don’t deserve to speak my opinion out loud. As the time goes by, they just think that I’m an introvert, when in fact I’m the total opposite when I’m with my other friends. They don’t even care when I tried to initiate a conversation anymore because it would just end up with me bringing up a topic they’d like to avoid or me being lame. Many times, I tried staying longer in uncomfortable situations with them, even when my thoughts were screaming the words “I wanna go home!”, but it would only leave me more hurt than ever. Now that I live with them, there’s no escape. I can’t sleep at night, I no longer know whether the smile I put on my face is the real sign of my happiness or not. I feel like I’m fighting this war alone. Every single day, they seem to live better without me. It seems too late to start now. Oh well, I hope you won’t get the same outcome as me. Above all, I hope you’re doing fine now.
Great article!
In recent years, I have learned to ask questions of people from watching others (I’m an introvert and shy, so this was work), and it works really well! Plus it feels natural to me… I *am* curious about people and enjoy asking questions.
However, even after many months of doing this with a friend, I’ve noticed that most people don’t reciprocate. I end up feeling like I know them really well, but they don’t know me very well. I know their history, what’s going on with them currently, participate in their hobbies where we overlap, etc., but if they know any of that about me it’s because I’ve volunteered some information, yet no followup questions were asked. I think I’m an interesting person and have a lot going on in my life to ask about (kids, interests, community involvement, travel), but most people don’t ask. It’s not universal… I do have a one or two friends who will ask, but these other folks make really good friends in other ways and I wish they were more curious.
Any suggestions about how to deal with this? I’ve thought about letting them know that I like questions, but this is too hard for me to do.
Thanks in advance!
Hi George,
Exactly! I am ALWAYS that person that shows interest…enjoys getting to know others….asks questions and wants to learn about people. The article stated…and I paraphrase…”people like to talk about themselves” YES THEY DO! It is rare to find another individual that reciprocates with questions….and is interested in learning about me! I guess we just keep trying and hope that we meet up with that one person that is actually interested in what we have to say as well. It’s a pretty selfish world out there for sure!!!
All knowledge is great…some in theory only…but will keep trying!
Joan and George, I recommend you to check out this article on what to do when friends only talk about themselves: https://socialself.com/blog/friend-only-talks-about-themselves-arent-interested-in-you/
Thank you David for passing on the links regarding dealing with friends that only talk about themselves. It doesn’t hurt to try…I especially like the “asking for your opinion” tactic! Again…I appreciate you responding to our comments and thank you for passing on additional helpful hints!!
This sounds great and I can see how it would work, but short of someone giving me an exact list of questions to ask, I don’t know what kind of questions to ask people. I already know that that’s why I’m not good at talking to people. How do you develop that sense? Is it some “natural” curiosity I just don’t have?
You will develop that sense with more experience in conversations, especially once your stress levels in social interactions start lowering. When you’re relaxed, your natural curiosity will start showing more and more. But it’s also something you can practice by asking yourself questions (in your head) about other people you see. This exercise might help you out on developing your curiosity: https://socialself.com/blog/make-interesting-conversation/
I haven’t tried the method yet but can I still try this when it seems late? Personally I have trouble understanding if am really making friends. Because right now was the first month in my new entered school and I feel anxious because am still not close or even more like friends with my classmates except seven of my like close friends I guess. HA I am terribly sorry I know this question isnt paid or anything. And not sure if anyone will answer this but thanks anyways. Sorry but tbh I can make friends but just my own group and I can’t understand a room with classmates. to like interract idk how and explain.
But what if it’s a person that you used to kind of know but fell out of touch with?
Try applying the general principle, of asking gradually more personal questions and sharing equally. If they reciprocate you can get more personal. You can also let this process happen over a longer time depending on the situation.
I am very excited to try this at my school. Would it also work on entire friend groups of 3 people?
If so, how?
Would you text this questions to someone or in person? In person is best but sometimes you do not get that chance in person. Some suggestions please.
Hmmm….if I were you, then I would try to do this in person. Even though it may seem more confrontational, it is actually more comfortable and is perceived as less psychopath-y when the person you are speaking to can hear your voice.
Hope I helped!!
Though I would also suggest you ask others, as I am no social expert!
I think this is a great way for people that would be rather shy, like my younger self, or isolated from social experience to get to know other people. it’s a nice tactic to learn and experiment on new people or friends that you know already. 🙂 Friendship is the most important thing in the world.
I feel like this would be effective for making friends with girls, but not with guys.
would u say this work even on someone you once were good friends with but lost contact? becuz i would very much like to become good friends again with some of my old friends. thnaks!
Yes, sure Marlon. Just make sure to proceed incrementally.
Wow! I love this method, I think I’ve been using it unconsciously for the last couple of years actually. When I was younger I only had one friend, but nowadays I don’t really have any big problems with meeting friends. I think that’s because I’ve just started listening to people more, not only to their words. I also listen to the feelings and that’s what’s made the difference to me 🙂 Keep spreading the love!