The big day is here. You’re finally about to go on your first date and meet your potential soulmate. You’ll want the best moments of your life. But along with enthusiasm, you’ll also be nervous. Why? Well, because according to Pew Research Centre, 50% of Americans say that dating has gotten harder in the past 20 years.
So, don’t go off killing multiple birds with one stone. If you try to focus on too many things at the same time, you may achieve none of them. Set priorities before the all-important ice-breaking date.
Since we’re talking about ice-breaking, it’s among the most important aspect of your first date – breaking the silence. According to our relationship experts at MIMA, a fruitful conversation is the first step towards building a solid relationship.
Communicating with your date is like stepping on a minefield. Saying the wrong things would be like stepping on a landmine, which is hard to defuse. So, before stepping on the landmine, wouldn’t it be nice to have guidelines for what to say on your first date?
If that’s what you’re after, look no further.
After you’ve found the perfect people on MIMA’s matchmaking platform, here are some tips to start and build communication on your first date.
What are their Interests?
Out in the open, enjoying the pleasant weather – is that your idea for a perfect first date? If so, you may want to alter your plans. Why? Because instead of going out for a walk, you can invite your date to a restaurant. This cancels out the noises and gives you two the desired privacy.
And guess what? The private atmosphere isn’t the only reason to prefer indoor seating. It’s the perfect chance to initiate the conversation as you’ll understand your date’s eating preferences. You’ll be stating the obvious, but pick the food they order and ask if it’s their favorite.
For example, you’ve gone to McDonald’s, and your date order’s a Big Mac beef burger. Now you know where to start.
Once you’re done with food, subtly shift your focus towards other potential areas of interest. For starters, you can mention their favorite content on Netflix. By 2021, Netflix has 209 million subscribers from the US and Canada, so it’s highly likely your date will be a subscriber.
Now that you’ve found the initial conversation point, take it forward from there.
Observe Their Non-Verbal Cues
Are you aware of the 55/38/7 formula? It’s a theory by professor Albert Mehrabian, a psychology teacher at the University of California.
According to Dr. Mehrabian, during our communication, 7% is spoken words, 38% voice tone, and a whopping 55% is based on body language.
Keeping that in mind, a lot will be unsaid during your date. It’s up to you to assess the non-verbal gestures of your date and act accordingly. This can also be a good way to know when your date is annoyed or enjoying.
You can alter your approach and conversation according to their non-verbal reactions. Besides, if you’re connecting with your date through MIMA’s matchmaking website, you’ll know much about their preferences.
Shift Attention Towards Their Profession
Now that the frozen ice is getting melted, this might be the opportunity to dig in deeper and ask about their profession. But remember, you can’t jump into it abruptly. It can send a negative message like you’re trying to figure out their financial status, which is a big no-no on your first date.
Smoothly phrase your question to know about their work life. You wouldn’t want to say things like, “What do you do for a living?”
Once you understand their profession, you may want to find commonalities with your own job and take the conversation from there.
Discuss Favorite and Non-Favorite Things
Congratulations! Now you know about your date’s occupation, along with their eating preferences. To cap off a perfect date, try to know about their leisure activities and hobbies.
Can’t pop the question straightaway? Not to worry. What you can do is mention random stuff which you like. Your date might respond to one of those, and that’s where you can start.
For example, if your date is a formula 1 fan, you might discuss the achievements of Lewis Hamilton and Mario Andretti. Same for other conversations as well.
Good Luck with Your First of Many Dates
A vital part is not to make it a monotonous conversation. There would be some parts where your date may initiate and take over the conversation. That’s when you know what you’re doing is working.
