Can You be More Interesting?

Who doesn’t want to be interesting? When we tell a story, or write about a topic, we always risk revealing that we don’t know the difference between what’s interesting and what isn’t. While some people always seem to be interesting, it isn’t something you either have or don’t have. With a little effort we can be interesting. 

What really makes us interesting? Many things, including our experiences, humor, ideas, well thought out opinions and offering knowledge that’s useful. Most of us enjoy hearing an idea or an opinion that stimulates our thinking, especially when they open the door to a new way of thinking. We all appreciate those moments. How we communicate also has an impact on our ability to be entertaining.

According to Verywellmind.com, we can learn how to be more interesting by following these tips. I’ve taken the liberty of adding a few points:

Be curious about the world around you. Ask questions. I had a boss who after lunch one day, stopped off at a liquor store to search for wines he might use at a major event he would soon be hosting. He casually mentioned that one of the wines was too tannic for his taste as if I might have a clue what tannic meant. I decided to investigate and bought a book about wine which led to more books. I learned a good deal about the shape of wine bottles, the reason wine corks have the winery’s name imprinted on them, and yes, I know what tannic means now. If something sparks your interest, delve into the topic, search for angles and anecdotes that you find stimulating.  

·   Be passionate about something. Find a hobby or interest that you're really excited about and pursue it with gusto. However, don’t assume others will automatically share your enthusiasm. Less is usually more. You’ll know you’re onto a winner when people ask questions about your topic, which suggests they want to know more.

·    Be engaged in conversations. Listen more than you talk and be interested in what others have to say. Good listeners always seem to be interesting.  

·     Pay attention to the responses you get when you tell a story or offer an opinion. Do listeners ask you follow up questions? Do they respond enthusiastically or just politely? Look closely at their eyes. Excited or glazed over? Also, recognize that your audiences will vary. What’s fascinating to one group, may be dull to another. Standup comedians deal with this phenomenon regularly. A joke that kills one night can flop the next night.   

·     Be wary of offering too many details, getting into the weeds, or taking unrelated detours that can weigh down your story. Refine your story, adding new details and dropping others, always focused on moving your story forward at a good pace. For example, if you’re explaining how to make a bookshelf, the type of wood you used matters. Where you bought it, probably doesn’t.      

·     If your anecdote is about you, be careful not to try to come across as someone who’s flawless. That can become off putting and boring. Remember that sincerity cannot be faked. People always know the difference. A touch of self-deprecation also makes you more interesting to others.

 The bottom line is like everything worth doing, becoming a more interesting person takes work. If you focus on being helpful without lecturing, you’re on the right track.