How Can You Be More Interesting?
To help you become a more interesting person, we’ve gathered insights from founders, CEOs, and community managers. With 11 expert tips ranging from exploring and developing personal interests to distancing from social media, discover how to captivate others and enhance your personal appeal.
- Explore and Develop Personal Interests
- Embrace Curiosity and Individuality
- Improve Your Listening Skills
- Pursue Personal Growth and Knowledge
- Showcase Distinctive Qualities
- Engage in New Hobbies
- Develop Well-Rounded Engagement Skills
- Form Your Unique Voice
- Ask, Share, Tell, and Be Genuine
- Explore Uncommon Hobbies
- Distance From Social Media
Explore and Develop Personal Interests
Being interesting isn’t about being someone you’re not—it’s about learning more about yourself and what makes you happy. That means the first step to becoming more interesting is taking some time to figure out what hobbies, activities, and interests make you feel alive and energized.
What do you like doing? Do any of your friends have hobbies that interest you? Think back to childhood activities that used to bring a smile to your face. You may find something from your past or activity completely new that could become your passion.
Once you determine what interests inspire and motivate you, begin investing time in them as well as in yourself by developing skills related to those topics or areas of study. This doesn’t mean spending hours reading books or watching documentaries (although it could). It could mean looking for people who are experts in the field or attending talks on related subjects so that your knowledge grows along with your enthusiasm for the topic.
Roksana Bielecka
Community Manager, ResumeHelp
Embrace Curiosity and Individuality
Being more interesting is a skill that can be developed with practice and a few key strategies. First, cultivate a curious mindset and embrace lifelong learning. Stay updated on various topics, explore new hobbies, and engage in thought-provoking conversations. This will broaden your knowledge and make you a more engaging conversationalist.
Actively listen to others and show genuine interest in their stories and perspectives. This fosters deeper connections and makes you a memorable presence in social settings.
Finally, showcase your unique passions and strengths. Develop expertise in a specific area, pursue your interests wholeheartedly, and share your knowledge with enthusiasm.
Remember, being more interesting is about being authentic and embracing your individuality. Embrace new experiences, expand your knowledge, and connect with others on a deeper level.
Samuel Fletcher
Co-founder, SupplyGem
Improve Your Listening Skills
Listening is a skill. Doing it well is an art. Cultivating your skills as a listener makes you appear so much more interesting. A skilled listener asks questions and is extremely engaged when talking to others.
When you listen and ask questions, the people you’re talking with feel better about themselves and about you. By listening well, you can become so much more interesting without ever having to pick up a new hobby.
Temmo Kinoshita
Co-founder, Lindenwood Marketing
Pursue Personal Growth and Knowledge
Personal growth is another avenue to becoming more interesting. By continually learning, challenging yourself, and stepping out of your comfort zone, you develop as a person and accumulate a wealth of experiences to share. This continual quest for growth and knowledge can make you a magnet for intriguing conversations and relationships.
Burak Özdemir
Founder, Online Alarm Kur
Showcase Distinctive Qualities
To be more interesting, embrace your unique quirks and interests. Research shows that people are drawn to individuals with distinct passions. Explore unconventional hobbies or develop an unusual skill that sets you apart. For instance, a study found that individuals who could solve a Rubik’s Cube quickly were perceived as more intriguing.
Embodying authenticity and curiosity sparks engaging conversations, captivating others effortlessly. By showcasing your distinctive qualities, you become a magnet for curiosity and connection, making your presence genuinely captivating. Step outside the ordinary and let your extraordinary shine.
Himanshu Sharma
CEO and Founder, Academy of Digital Marketing
Engage in New Hobbies
Choose a random hobby. Critically, once chosen, commit to doing it for three months. Doing in this context means fully engaging. Whether it’s in daily activities or practice, community events, or continual training and education. You’ll either decide you like it and continue, or you’ll quit and still be more interesting after having the experience.
Trevor Ewen
COO, QBench
Develop Well-Rounded Engagement Skills
To be more interesting, ask thoughtful questions and show genuine interest in others. Expand your interests through hobbies, books, and movies, becoming a well-rounded individual. Share personal stories and anecdotes that apply to the conversation, engaging others with your experiences.
Develop a sense of humor and embrace lightheartedness, making others enjoy your company. Be a good listener, paying attention and showing genuine interest in others’ stories and opinions.
Pursue your passions, as enthusiasm is contagious and can make you more captivating. Continuously learn and stay informed to spark insightful conversations. Remember, being interesting is about being authentic and engaging in a way that aligns with your personality and interests.
Josh Amishav
Founder and CEO, Breachsense
Form Your Unique Voice
To be more interesting, it is essential to develop your unique voice and style. Your voice is your individual essence that makes you different from others. It is the way you convey your thoughts, opinions, and ideas to the world.
Developing your unique voice involves self-discovery and identifying your values, perspectives, and passions. You can also improve your voice by practicing your writing and communication skills regularly.
By being true to yourself, you can captivate your audience and make them interested in what you have to say. Remember, you are the only person who has lived your experiences, and your story is unique, which makes your voice unique too.
Basana Saha
Founder, KidsCareIdeas
Ask, Share, Tell, and Be Genuine
Be curious and ask questions. People are drawn to those who are interested in them and what they have to say. When you ask questions, you show that you’re paying attention and that you care about what the other person has to say.
Find something that you’re passionate about and share it with others. When you’re passionate about something, it shows. Others want to be around those who are excited about life and who have something to say.
Be a good storyteller. People love to hear stories. When you tell a story, make sure it’s engaging. Use vivid language and bring the story to life.
Be yourself. The most interesting people are those who are authentic and genuine. Don’t be someone you’re not. Be yourself and people will be drawn to you.
Brenton Thomas
CEO, Twibi
Explore Uncommon Hobbies
One excellent way to be more interesting is by exploring uncommon hobbies that pique your curiosity. Engaging in activities such as geocaching, fire spinning, or urban exploration can make you stand out and generate fascinating stories to share. These distinctive hobbies can capture people’s attention and spark intriguing conversations.
By stepping outside the norm and embracing unusual pastimes, you’ll expand your own horizons and offer a fresh perspective to those around you. Uncommon hobbies create an aura of adventure and originality, making you a captivating individual.
Peter Monkhouse
Founder and Managing Director, ICL SA
Distance from Social Media
Social media encourages us to share our lives with others. As a result, we focus more on capturing and posting moments instead of fully experiencing them. By distancing yourself from social media, you can focus on genuinely engaging in activities and experiences for your own sake, rather than seeking attention from others. This leads to a richer and more authentic life, making you more interesting.
What’s also worth noting, spending too much time on social media can give you the wrong message about the world. Overflowing with images of perfect bodies, exotic holidays, and ever-so-tidy houses, you compare yourself to others, feeling convinced that “the grass is always greener on the other side.” You can become jealous, disappointed, and insecure. Not necessarily more interesting, though.
Distance yourself from social media, cultivate genuine experiences, and collect moments rather than likes. You will be surprised how easy it is to celebrate your life and be more interesting.
Agata Szczepanek
Community Manager, MyPerfectResume
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