Party 101: Tips on How to Mingle

Everyone likes a good party. Sometimes they are fun and a chance to hang with friends, but other times when you don't know anyone they can be dull, awkward, and hopelessly long.

The next time you find yourself looking for an escape at a party, consider that maybe you're not giving it your best effort. Having fun means mingling and being social, and when your attitude is "I'm so bored" you send that message to the people around you. Remember, you could be passing up a great opportunity to meet some fascinating people.

Following are some tips on how to mingle, especially in a crowd of strangers:

Be open to everyone you meet. Our tendency is to focus on one person we find attractive and zero in, scheming about how to approach him or her. But the opposite approach I find works better: circulate. Talk to many people, and don't discriminate. For one, you could overlook someone potentially great, and two, you want to be social and not rude to others. This makes you stand out.

Be interesting. This isn't a flippant remark. If you're looking for other people to entertain you because you're bored, you won't get very far. Instead, it's up to you to be attractive and interesting to others by being social and engaging. Go introduce yourself to people you don't know. Take the first step.

Pay attention to body language. When you smile, it's an invitation to have a conversation. Instead of holding your arms across your chest, leave them at your sides. Make eye contact. Pat someone's back or arm when you compliment his appearance. When you're more open with others in terms of body language, they will be more receptive to engaging with you.

Engage. When you ask questions and listen to others, you're showing them you're interested in what they have to say. This doesn't mean that you should act like an investigative reporter, but pay attention to what they say and show them you're listening. Instead of going for the typical "where are you from?" questions, try something a little different. It's okay to be quirky or funny; this allows your personality to shine through.

Help the host. This is a good trick I learned. When you don't know many people, offer to pour drinks, prepare appetizers, or get the barbeque started. When you are offering drinks or food to people, it's a great way to introduce yourself in a way that isn't as daunting as randomly approaching a total stranger. Plus, you get to circulate and talk to everyone.