The underlying attributes of those who know how to be great dates are maturity, intelligence, and class. These characteristics work together to make dating experiences fun, exciting, and fulfilling.
Although most of these tips fall to men, women can also benefit from them.
Plan Ahead
Have a specific and well-laid-out plan for your date. This means learning about the destination, making reservations, and knowing how to get there.
Don’t show your immaturity and arrogance by having no plans when you arrive. Instead, demonstrate your organizational skills. You’ll have a much better time, and your date will respect you for it.
Be Optimistic
Have a positive attitude about how you expect the date to go. If you expect it to go poorly, I guarantee that’s precisely what will happen.
Be optimistic without having unrealistic expectations.
Be on Time
Be prompt. Don’t be early, but don’t be more than a couple of minutes late. Being late is disrespectful, immature, and classless.
Show some class and be on time.
Pay Attention
Focus all your attention on your date. This isn’t the time to check out other women or men as they pass.
Do this even if you discover that the person isn’t a good romantic fit for you. Who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend. Be respectful and kind to keep your reputation intact.
Give them your attention and you’ll get their admiration.
Avoid Ex Talk
Don’t talk about any topic that includes your ex. Don’t include your ex’s name or former status (husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend) in any sentence.
If the conversation leads to a discussion about an ex, refer to them as an ex or a past relationship.
Keep your conversations free of mood-killing ex-talk.
Concentrate on Listening
A good listener is more important than an “interesting” talker. Listening is also the best way to learn about the person you’re dating. Do all the talking and you’ll miss the opportunity to determine their character.
Questions are your instrument for creating meaningful conversation. They are also key to discovering whether your date is a good match for you.
Listening and observing are more valuable than talking and trying to impress. Your listening skills will impress your date more than your theatrical performance.
Focus on Fun
Make having fun your goal for the date. Remove expectations and go with the flow. Just have the intention of having a good time and making a new friend.
Don’t make discovering the love of your life or getting laid your objective. If you do that, you’ll likely present yourself as being overly anxious, insecure, and pushy.
Just focus on having fun, and everything else will fall into place.
Be Confident
Being confident on a date means you don’t need to use sweet talk or flattery to get your date to like you. Here’s what I mean.
Don’t be overly nice. Just be yourself. You must almost be unconcerned whether your date likes you. That doesn’t mean you’re impolite or self-absorbed. It just means your self-esteem will not be hurt if they don’t like you.
Don’t be overly complimentary. Just telling them they look nice should do it. Save the more specific and passion-filled compliments for when the time is right.
If you’re too nice and too complimentary, you’ll come off as being disingenuous and insecure. Just be confident, straightforward, and polite.
End it Memorably
Long, drawn-out goodbyes are rarely memorable and are usually awkward during the early stages of dating a new person.
Keep the closing conversation short and direct. Just say, “Thank you. I had a good time.” Don’t make plans for your next date then. Let things percolate for a while. Contact them in a few days about that.
If a kiss is appropriate, make it quick and really nice but not passionate (no tongue). Then say “goodnight,” turn, and walk away. Don’t linger. Leave them wanting more! 😀
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Being a great date is a learned skill. The more you learn about and apply dating techniques, the better you’ll get. The payoff is increased quality and quantity of partners and more dating fun, excitement, and satisfaction.