This might sound strange, but I act. I put on a different persona. Like a more extreme version of customer service voice.

It helps me get past the initial stages where I get to know people enough that I feel comfortable in their presence and I can be myself.

Canned responses help a lot. If you pay attention a lot of people are just following a pattern when they speak. People ask the same questions over and over and bring up the same topics and make the same jokes.

You don't actually have to think about your response to people's questions if you've already practiced and come up with a line. Helps get over that brain stutter that anxiety can cause.