Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by Christin
There are all types of people in this world, and some of them are harder to deal with than others. Awkward people are a population that can be hard to deal with both in personal and professional relationships. They make it harder to communicate and understand each other, and it can be exhausting to try and make them feel comfortable. However, knowing how to handle awkward people is an important skill to have in order to create successful relationships with them.
A Few Reasons Why People Are Awkward
First, it’s important to understand what makes some people awkward.
- Poor Social Skills –ย Sometimes, people are awkward because they simply don’t have the skills or knowledge to interact well with others. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as shyness, lack of confidence, poor upbringing, fear of rejection, or social anxiety.
- Poor Communication Skills – Another reason that people may seem awkward is because they struggle with communication. This could be due to problems with speech and language development, poor verbal skills such as avoiding eye contact or talking too loudly or softly, difficulty expressing emotions verbally, poor upbringing, or being uncomfortable with public speaking.
- Lack of Self-Awareness –ย Some people simply don’t realize that their behavior is perceived as awkward by others. They may not notice certain social cues and body language signals indicating that they’re making others uncomfortable, or they may not be aware of their own nonverbal behavior.
No matter how much you want to change awkward people, you can’t. There are many reasons that people end up being awkward, and undoing those reasons simply because you want them to become less awkward isn’t going to happen.
7 Things To Do To Deal With An Awkward Person
When you run into an awkward person, how can you make things less uncomfortable? There are a few things that will help the situation.
1. Try Not To Be Judgmental
The first thing to do when you encounter an awkward person is to remain calm and collected. Even if the other person seems nervous, anxious, or flustered, try not to be judgmental about it.
Remember that others have their own personal struggles that may be contributing to their behavior, so donโt take it personally or assume that they are intentionally trying to make things difficult for you.
2. Be Direct And Clear With Your Communications
While it may be tempting to try and skirt around issues and rush communication, that can often make matters worse.
Instead, try to be as direct and clear as possible when communicating with an awkward person. This will ensure that they understand you, while also being respectful of the fact that they may be easily overwhelmed or confused by subtlety and indirectness.
3. Be Aware Of Your Body Language And Tone
When interacting with an awkward person, itโs important to remain mindful of your body language and tone of voice. Awkward people can sense when someone is annoyed or impatient with them, and it can make them even more awkward.
Try to keep your gestures and movements relaxed, calm, and open, rather than stiff or closed off.
You should also be mindful of the tone of your voice โ try not to sound angry or frustrated even if you are feeling that way on the inside. Remember that itโs possible for people to feel awkward because they are being criticized or judged, so be sure to avoid those types of behaviors.
4. Ask Them Questions To Get A Better Understanding Of Their Own Background And Experiences
If the awkward person is willing to talk, try asking them questions about their background and experiences. This will help you better understand what may have led them to feel so uncomfortable in that situation, as well as come up with ways that you can help them feel more comfortable around you.
For instance, if they have a hard time communicating, they may have grown up in a family where communication wasn’t a thing. If you ask them a few questions about childhood, and they open up to you about their family, it will become clear that they were never taught how to communicate properly as they grew up.
The most important thing is to make the other person feel like theyโre understood and heard โ no matter how awkward the situation may seem to you on the surface.
5. Make Them Feel Comfortable By Being Open And Honest About Your Own Background
If youโre able to be honest and open with the awkward person about your own background and experiences, it can help them feel more comfortable around you as well. This will show them that everyone has their own personal struggles and hardships, even if it doesnโt always look like it from the outside.
Knowing this simple fact can really make all the difference when interacting with an awkward person โ since theyโll realize that they arenโt alone, or โthe only one who feels this way.โ
Remember that many people have struggles of their own โ whether in the area of social skills, self-esteem, confidence, or something else โ and that includes you as well. So donโt hesitate to be honest and open about your own experiences!
6. Tone Down Your Body Language And Focus On The Other Person
Thereโs nothing more awkward than having someone focus on themselves and give off a closed-off or distant vibe when interacting with you. So if you have an awkward person in front of you, try to keep your body language calm and relaxed instead of tense or nervous โ as that can make them feel even more uncomfortable and awkward around you!
Similarly, it may be helpful to focus on the other person and what they are saying/doing, rather than getting distracted by their appearance or behavior. This will help put them at ease (since there wonโt be so much attention focused on them) while also helping YOU feel more comfortable in that situation.
7. Understand That You May Have To Change Your Behavior Based On The Personโs Background And Experiences
It may be necessary to change your own behavior slightly depending on who you are dealing with.
For example, if they seem shy or timid due to a lack of social skills/self-confidence issues, try being extra friendly and chatty when speaking with them; whereas if they seem overly aware of othersโ opinions or judgments towards them (nervous or self-conscious), make sure to avoid any type of criticism or judgment as well.
There is no one โrightโ way for everyone, but by being aware of the personโs own background and experiences (as well as what may be causing their awkwardness in that situation) โ you can usually get a good idea of how to best change your behavior in order to help them feel more comfortable around you.
Final Thoughts On Dealing With An Awkward Person
No matter who you are dealing with, it will always be better if you can find some common ground or shared interest; this will give you something to talk about while also helping both of you get out of an awkward situation.
Stay relaxed. Don’t judge. And try to treat them with respect and kindness. It will go a long way to helping them be less awkward and more open with you.
