How can I be less of an awkward girl talking to someone I just met?

Stop focusing on yourself. Really sharpen your listening skills and really listen to what people are saying. Learn to ask them questions and really care about the answers.

I always go in to those situations thinking it’s no skin off my butt if they like me or not, so I don’t put any pressure on myself. When I’m relaxed the other person usually does the same and the conversation just flows. It also helps to get them talking about something that interests them and just play off that.

It took me well into my twenties before I could say I was a bit comfortable at speaking to a woman I’d never met before.

One way is to mention it in a light-hearted way. “HI, I’m Mande. I get really nervous when I meet new people. How about you?”

Most people have a brief moment of stage fright often w. a new encounter.

I found this helpful.

Maintain eye contact and be honest.

How hard can it be? When you meet up with new people just view them as IRS agents and you will see you will not be smiling too much or acting giddy; you will go about the business at hand.

I get nervous around new people as well something I try to do is to if I get nervous and dont know what to say, I say I need a second because I dont know how to word what I want to say. That gives me time to both relax a few seconds and think thoroughly of something to talk about