How to Navigate Awkward Social Gatherings

Diandra Baniabbasi
Nov 11
3 min read

Updated: Nov 21

We’ve all been there: you get invited to a friendsgiving, baby shower, or client holiday party where you might only know a handful of people, and it’s not even guaranteed they’ll all show up.

You stay optimistic and tell yourself, “It’ll be worth it.”

After all, building relationships is part of the gig, right?

Socializing gives you that chance to expand your network, meet new faces, and discover what people are truly like beyond the context you know them; whether that’s the office, school, your kid’s pickup line, or elsewhere.

In reality, most social gatherings revolve around food and drinks. Unless the host has activities lined up, these occasions can quickly turn into an awkward shuffle: standing around, trying to (or dodging) conversation with whoever’s closest or most familiar.

Most hosts mean well when bringing people together, but not everyone excels at sparking real connections: think proper introductions, thoughtful questions, and genuine sharing. More often than not, you’ll need to take the initiative, or at least stay open to a little back-and-forth, until the room starts to feel less foreign.

So, what’s the best way to navigate these awkward social moments?

Let's break it down into simple steps.

Step 1: Take the Leap

It all starts with a simple move: making eye contact to catch someone’s attention, then lead with a question that invites deeper conversation.

A reliable opener is always: Hi, I'm [your name]! How do you know [host's name]?

Hi, I'm [your name]! What's your connection to [host's name / company / event / activity]?

The answer you get will reveal their tie-in and gives you a natural opening to share yours.

From there, it may still fall to you to keep the momentum.

Skip the usual surface-level prompts like “Where do you live?” or “What do you do?”

Instead, lean into open-ended questions that spark real dialogue, such as:

“Are you also from the area / company ?
"How do you like living in Colorado compared to New York?”
“What drew you to XYZ as a career/company?”
“What do you usually get up to on the weekends?”
"Any fun plans for the holidays?"
"How do you typically celebrate your birthday / holiday / event?"

People love talking about their passions, hobbies, food and cooking, the latest show they binged, pets, kids, travel stories, and yes, sometimes even work. Once you take the leap and get the conversation started, you'll have more chances to dig deeper and truly form a connection, even if it's surface-level. Just avoid diving into gossip or pushing into sensitive territory around personal choices or differing opinions.

Always keep the following goal in mind: to connect, enjoy the moment, and maybe walk away with a new friend. Remember, you might never cross paths with the people in this gathering ever again. And if you do, keeping things light and positive ensures you won’t dread the next encounter.

There’s also no pressure to force the chat.

Keep asking, commenting, and sharing until it feels natural to shift gears.

Step 2: Moving on Gracefully

Awkward silence can sting nearly as much as a stalled conversation. When you’re ready to exit, take the lead, again, and signal your departure clearly.

Try lines like:

“Good luck with your plans; I’m sure I’ll see you around soon!”
“Time for a drink refill / quick bathroom break.”
“I haven’t said hi to so-and-so yet, but it was great chatting!”
"It was nice meeting you, I'm sure I'll see you around!"

Always close with a warm send-off: “See you,” “Take care,” or “It was nice meeting you.”

A smooth goodbye preserves the connection and keeps your effort from fizzling into awkwardness.

Final Thoughts on Navigating Awkward Social Gatherings

Stepping into new social settings is rarely easily, especially for introverts. You’re not obligated to work the entire room. But to make the most of your time and ease the tension, aim to connect with just a few new people.

Most importantly, stay positive, set a clear intention for how long you’ll stay and what you’re comfortable sharing, and you’ll leave with a true sense of accomplishment. Who knows...you might even walk away with a new friend or two 😉

Additional resources on the topic if you'd like to learn more: