This doesn’t mean that your friend can’t appeal to people just because they’re less attractive than you. But if they also lack charisma and flirting skills, while you’re a smooth operator, then you won’t have much luck.
Learn how to read cues to tell which person your friend wants. You might even want to designate hand, eye, or verbal signals beforehand.
You don’t have to look like a total dud during this process, of course — don’t make it seem like you’re hiding/lurking/cowering behind your buddy. Think of yourself as the Robin to their Batman. [3] X Research source
If there is just one person, you can let your friend talk to them first and join in later. If there are two people, give your leader a few minutes to warm up to both of them before you join in. [4] X Research source
It’s important that, once you figure out which person your friend wants, you stick to the other person from the beginning. If you try to switch off midway through, your targets will get confused.
Stave off interlopers by distracting them, getting in their way, or subtly annoying them until they buzz off.
Don’t interrupt your friend when they’re talking unless you really have something to add. Otherwise, you’ll make your friend look like a chump. If it does get a little quiet, don’t say “Now this is awkward. . . " Just speak up and get the ball rolling again.
You need laser focus on the task at hand — to help your friend go home with, or at least to get the number of, the person they’re interested in. Tell yourself that you’re doing your friend a favor, and that you’ll get your turn another day.
Pace yourself. Unless you’re both the designated wingman and designated driver, it’s fine to drink enough to keep near the pace of the group. But call it a night if you start to lose focus.
As soon as you say you have to go home, the spell is over, and you will have ruined your friend’s chances if they haven’t come close to closing the deal. If you really need to leave, give your friend some advance notice — maybe even by text — so they can come up with a plan for staying in touch with the person.
Many leaders prefer a wingman who’s in a relationship, since they’re less likely to try to steal the main person. Also, a wingman who smoothly lets it be known that they’re taken can help ensure that the main person will focus on the leader even more. [11] X Research source
This doesn’t mean that you should put your friend down or make them look like a loser, though. That won’t help, either, and you’ll both end up looking foolish.
If you do have to tell them that they spilled a drink on their shirt or that something about their appearance is off, try to be subtle about it. Setting up a series of signals beforehand might help.
An hour is the maximum amount of time to wait. You can often figure out whether or not the target is warming up to your friend in as little as ten to fifteen minutes — and sometimes almost instantly. Remember — a good wingman has to make the tough decisions sometimes, even if they’re not popular in the moment. [14] X Research source
You can enhance the truth a bit, but don’t make it too much of a stretch. You can’t force them to bond over something your friend really doesn’t know all that much about.
Make sure you have your own way of getting home if necessary. You don’t want to kill the mood by sharing their cab home. If it just doesn’t work out in the end, don’t sweat it. You tried your best — and that’s all that can be asked of a wingman.
