SCARED TO ASK WORKMATE OUT

Dear Coleen

I like this girl at work and we have great banter with each other, but we never go on any work outings, so I only ever see her during the hours of nine to five.

I would love to ask her out on a date but I’m too nervous to do it, and I don’t want to scare her off as I’ve heard from other people that she’s never really gone out on dates before.

What do you suggest?

Coleen says

I think it would help to stop thinking of it as a ‘date’ and building it up to be this scary big thing. Think of it as going out with a friend from work for a drink and seeing what develops.

As far as asking her goes, just casually say (when you’re in the middle of bantering), ‘We should hang out after work one night and have a drink’. Or, if even that’s too scary, organise a work drink and get a few people along so it’s more relaxed and there’s less expectation. It sounds like you get on really well, so be positive about it.