Guys Who Never Get Stuck In The Friend Zone Know These 8 Effective Tricks
Sofía Falco| Pexels Some guys seem to effortlessly move from just friends to something more, while others watch from the sidelines wondering what they heck they're missing. The difference usually comes down to timing and intention. Men who never get stuck in the friend zone understand that just waiting around and hoping she'll suddenly see you differently rarely works.
They know that women respond to men who make their interest clear early on rather than passively hanging back. If you want to be the guy she sees as dating material instead of best bud material, it starts with being purposeful about how you show up from the very beginning.
Here are the eight tricks used by guys who never get stuck in the friend zone:
1. They break the 'nice guy' or 'best friend' stereotype
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Oftentimes, the guys that find themselves in the friend zone are there because they’ve adopted the “nice guy,” or “best friend” role. Once this happens, it can be tough to share your true feelings with your love interest, especially if you’re worried that it will make her feel pressured or ruin the friendship.
Guys who avoid the friend zone understand that the person being friend-zoned often hasn't clearly communicated their romantic interest, putting out an energy that indicates a desire for friendship rather than a romantic connection. Research on attraction consistently shows that directly asking for a date is one of the clearest cues of romantic interest, yet so many guys dance around it, hoping she'll somehow figure it out on her own.
While it’s okay to consider possible outcomes, the problem with biting your tongue is that you’re putting her feelings above your own. To get out of the friend zone, you must first find the confidence to let your crush know, verbally or through actions, that you’re interested in being more than just friends.
2. They give her some space
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As much as you may love being around her, the key to capturing her attention is by letting her feel the incompleteness when you’re not there. In other words, stop hanging out with her or calling her. Winning someone's heart by being constantly present doesn’t work. Why? Because there's no chase or air of mystery.
Humans are designed to seek closure and completeness, and a missing piece of a puzzle calls to us, making us feel uncomfortable, one study argued. When you're always available, always texting, always showing up, you become predictable, and predictable doesn't create a romantic pull.
3. They don’t act as her pretend boyfriend
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When men and women are close friends, it can be hard to define the line between friendship and romance. No matter how tempted you may be to take on the role of her “pretend” or “temporary” boyfriend — don’t. Allowing her to treat you as her boyfriend when you do not mean that she gets the perks of being in a relationship with you and the perks of being single.
For example, if you’re always taking her out to nice dinners and paying for all her drinks, then she might think that she can have the cake and eat it too! The truth is, there are people in this world who will take advantage of kind generosity.
If your love interest is this type of person, then she may be content with being your friend because she gets spoiled without having to commit. To find out where you stand, back off for a while and see how she reacts.
4. They let her see they're not lacking options
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Oftentimes, people don’t realize what they want until they can’t have it. To get your crush interested in you, make yourself romantically unavailable. When she sees how well you treat your partner, she may want you for herself.
Some men are skeptical of this idea, but this really works. Showing your love interest that you are wanted can be done simply by going out with other women. The date itself doesn’t have to be anything serious, but you don’t want to tell your crush that.
Instead, let her realize that you won’t sit around and wait for her, and when she sees other women swooping in, her competitive nature may kick in. Not to mention the law of pre-selection, which claims that women feel more attracted to you when they realize that you’re sought after by other women.
Simply put, when your crush sees that you’re desirable, they start rethinking your relationship. This is a big chance for you to get out of the friend zone and win her heart.
5. They aren't needy
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A common reason why men end up in the friend zone is that they make it known how desperately they want a relationship. That’s a major turn-off. Combine this knowledge with being overly emotional or touchy with your love interest, and it’s a recipe for permanent "friendzoning" (if she keeps you around at all that is).
Being needy, touchy, or mushy with your crush is not a good idea if she sees you as friends. Not only will your behavior eventually annoy her, but it may also cause her to back off altogether. Learn to relax and remember that showing your affection every time you see her can be overwhelming.
Instead, play the calm, cool, and confident role and be the kind of man she’d like to date. To keep her fascinated, make sure that your life is full and exciting.
Research on what people look for in partners shows that women tend to value emotional stability and maturity more than men do, which means she's screening for it whether she realizes it or not. When you make it obvious how badly you want a relationship, you're basically advertising the opposite of what she's looking for.
6. They are mysterious
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The major foundation of attraction is a mystery. When a man is mysterious, it triggers a woman’s curiosity, which makes you a challenge to unveil.
Research from 2010 showed that women were most attracted to guys when they couldn't quite tell how interested he was, even more than when they knew he definitely liked them. Turns out, not knowing makes you think about someone more, and your brain can mistake all that thinking for real feelings.
In turn, she’ll be forced to think about you, and she’ll want to know more about you and the things you do. She may even develop a certain kind of interest or fantasy toward you. Add a sense of mystery to your personality, and she’ll be dying to get you out of the friend zone.
7. They directly ask her out
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Another great way to get out of the friend zone is by asking her out on a date. If you do and she becomes hesitant, rephrase your proposal and ask her out on a non-date.
You could take a walk through the park or go for coffee — the kind of things you usually do as friends. Once you’ve spent some time together, either on a real date or a non-date, you may be able to convince her to go out on a romantic date with you. Keep in mind that this may take some time, so don’t fret if she turns you down the first time you ask. (But if she continually rejects you, it's probably in your best interest to let it go.)
The key to escaping the friend zone is letting her feel and notice your romantic feelings. To avoid a bleak outcome, be brave enough to move things to the next level and show her that you are attracted to her.
8. They use light, appropriate touch
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For many people, a big distinction between "friendship" and "relationship" is the way they touch. Since there are both platonic and romantic ways to touch someone, it’s important to note that the boundary is different for different people.
If you're terrified of touching your crush the wrong way, to the extent that you hesitate and never touch her, then you may be sabotaging your chances. To get out of the friend zone, you must make a move.
Start by reaching for her hand or brushing her arms when you pass by. Or you can try putting your hand on her shoulder, or cuddling close on the couch. If she doesn't like it, she'll let you know, but don’t wait for her to make the first move.
Remember, touching someone communicates that you find them attractive and that you’re confident enough to show them. Both of these things can make her feel more attracted to you, too.
Brad Browning is a relationship coach and breakup expert from Vancouver, Canada, with over 10 years of experience working with couples to repair and improve relationships.
