Flirting Technique

Smiling

A smile goes a long way when you're trying to let another person know that you're interested in striking up a conversation. There are many reasons to smile when you meet someone you'd like to get to know better, especially if you have a romantic interest in the individual. People generally seem much more open and approachable when they are smiling. It's also a fact that people tend to look much more attractive when they have smiles on their faces. Additionally, smiling at another person can give the individual the encouragement he or she needs to approach you.

Eye Contact

Catching the eye of a person you'd like to get to know better is a good way of conveying your own interest and figuring out if it might be reciprocated. If you want to find out if an individual has any interest in you at all, try to time your glances in his or her direction so that you get caught looking at the person. Hold the person's eye contact for a few seconds while smiling, then glance away. When you look back, if he or she catches your eye again, that's a good sign that it might be a great time to strike up a conversation.

Posture

The way you carry yourself sends a message to the other people around you. When you want to flirt with someone, pay special attention to how you are sitting or standing. If you have your arms crossed, you will appear unapproachable. If your shoulders are slumped, you may be sending stay away from me messages. Additionally, turning your shoulders away from someone conveys a lack of interest, signaling that you want the conversation to end. Facing the other person, however, can signal that you are interested in continuing to interact with him or her.

Not only can your posture send messages about whether or not you're interested in another person, it can also have an impact on how attractive you look. When you meet someone you'd like to flirt with, do a mental check of your posture, and make sure that the way you are carrying yourself helps you look your best. Standing or sitting up straight with your shoulders back can make you look thinner, confident, and approachable.

Nonverbal Signals

When you've struck up a conversation with the person you're interested in, try letting him or her know of your interest through the subtle use of body language. Remember that actions speak louder than words, and if the person you're speaking with wants to figure out if you are romantically interested or not, he or she will be paying close attention to the signals you are sending.

Leaning in toward the person you're interested in while he or she is speaking to you can be an effective flirting technique. In the same way that leaning away or crossing your arms can send the message that you're not interested, leaning closer conveys that you want to get to know the person better. If you know the person well enough, and it is appropriate to do so, lightly touching his or her arm while you are conversing is another effective way of expressing interest through body language.

Winking

Winking is a questionable flirting technique. In some cases winks can be well-received. However, more often than not winks come across as being very "cheesy" and can be a complete turn off. Unless you're flirting with someone you know very well, or are in a situation where a wink seems to be particularly appropriate, it's generally not a good idea to risk using this type of nonverbal signal.

Sincerity

One of the reasons that winking isn't the best flirting technique is that such gestures don't always come across as being sincere. If you have a romantic interest in another person, it's important that you come across as being genuine and trustworthy. When you strike up a conversation with a person who interests you, try paying that person a sincere compliment, or asking an open-ended question about the other person that's likely to keep the conversation going.

Whatever you do or say, you should definitely avoid using phrases that are likely to be interpreted as pick-up lines if you want to be taken seriously. If you find the phrases hey baby or haven't I seen you somewhere before? starting to roll of your tongue, take a sip of your drink before the words can escape your mouth.

Practicing Your Flirting Technique

A side benefit of brushing up your knowledge on how to flirt is that you'll be better prepared to recognize the signs of flirting when they are directed at you. The next time you're around someone that you view as a potential dating partner, use these flirting technique tips to find out if he or she feels the same way.