How to be more approachable

First of all, why would you want to be approachable?
To put it simply, so that you can maximize your social connectivity with people.

Whether it be the business scene, friend scene or family scene, the more approachable you are the more people will want to engage with you. What this means is that you will have a better business outlook, you will have more connections, you can get more dates and you can get closer to your friends and family.
Although character is a key point in relationships, if you are not approachable, you will have none.
It doesn't take a genius or any special type of person to become approachable, anyone can do it and you can start right away.

Here are some points that will make you seem more approachable;

• Eye brow lift - do this if at any time you catch someones eyes. Body language wise, this is a submissive act. People will subconsciously input in their brains that you are approachable.
• Smile - be happy that someone has actually gone out of their way to actually talk to you. You don't want people to feel uncomfortable addressing you, if you do chances are they never will again.
• Open with a question - your reply to being addressed should involve a question, something along the lines of "How are you doing?" or "What can I do for you?". It makes the person who addressed you feel noticed and cared about.
• Don't look busy/flustered - nobody will want to interrupt you. Even if you are busy the trick is to not make it seem so. If you are in the middle of something stop right there, divert all your attention to the addressor. It will make the addressor feel more comfortable.
• Don't think about yourself - if you are asked for a favour or task, your immediate reaction may be "well why do I have to do that?". The task needs to be done, they are asking you because they have faith in you, you don't want to tarnish that faith. Do it and be happy they chose you.
• Don't cross your arms - if you're a guy then it may not be helped (crossing arms could be a defensive act or he could just be feeling chilly), but it shows that you don't want to be there. That will make the addressor feel uncomfortable.
• Never sigh - there is nothing positive about sighing, I would stay away from it entirely, don't even do it when alone.
• Nod - nodding is a very positive sign (except in Turkey, if my memory serves me correctly nodding in Turkey means no), especially if you're listening to someone. It shows that you understand what is being said, and people want to feel that they have been understood.
• Don't stare - don't stare into the distance, don't stare into your addressor's face, it means your attention is on holiday.
• Listen - listen to what is being said, don't butt in unless you are really cropped for time or what is being said is looping.
• Be honest - don't make up excuses why you can't or don't want to do things. If you don't want to do it, tell them you don't want to do it but with a reason. End the sentence with "but I'll give it a try".
• End with a smile - there is nothing more comforting in a conversation than to know that a person you have just talked to has ended up smiling.

 If you have just read the list and thought to yourself "why should I be the one who does this stuff? No one does it to me" then read item number five again.
Of course you can choose not to do any or all of these things, but these are ways in which people will feel happier talking to you. If you make them feel happy, chances are they can make you feel happy too.

Some more links:
How approachable are you?
How to look approachable

So there it is, please comment if you feel some more should be added on or if some should be taken off.
I'd love to hear what you think.