The Curiosity-First Method

Replace the urge to impress with genuine curiosity. When you approach someone thinking "What can I learn from this person?" instead of "What will they think of me?" your entire energy shifts. Questions flow naturally and you stop rehearsing lines in your head.

Curiosity has a neurological payoff too. When you are genuinely curious, your brain releases dopamine, which makes you more engaged, more present, and more enjoyable to talk to. The other person picks up on this energy instinctively.