Networking Tips for Introverts

Photo by Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

If you own a business, if you are looking for a new job, or even looking to advance your current career, networking is essential. Networking is a crucial part of the business. It will keep you visible among your peers; it's a way to exchange ideas and a way to pave a path for new opportunities. 

Being in a crowd and talking to people you haven't previously met can be a struggle for introverts. Here are seven tips to help introverts conquer networking while keeping comfortable. 

Do it Online

Networking online is a great way to test the water, and now is a perfect time to practice your networking skills online. With many in-person events canceled and many conferences and meetings moving online, this is a great chance to take advantage of online networking opportunities. 

Many events offer speed networking where you are only talking to someone for 3-5 minutes at a time. You can participate in multiple or do one and take a break. Take your time and pace yourself. 

Additionally, there are many online platforms to help you network. Establish a Twitter account and interact with people in your field. Create a professional LinkedIn profile. You can join groups on LinkedIn that suit your interests. Start by commenting on a few posts before jumping in and posting things yourself.

Be Prepared/Make a Plan

Before attending any event, either online or in-person, make a plan and practice your "elevator pitch." An elevator pitch is an approximately 30-second speech, to sum up, what you do that you could deliver to someone in an elevator. Practice this elevator pitch in front of the mirror or with someone you are already comfortable with. Practice it over and over until you feel comfortable. 

Another thing to prepare for is to anticipate questions that you may get from your elevator pitch and practice answering those. Be careful; you don't want to sound like you are reading off a script. Practice pauses and emphasizes what you are saying.  

If you will be attending an in-person event, try and find out everything you can about the room's layout. Try and find a quiet place where you can go to decompress if things get overwhelming.

Be Yourself

Be yourself; while this advice may sound counter-intuitive since "being yourself" would have you at home in sweatpants. You want to let your unique personality shine through. 

You do not have to be the center of attention if you don't feel comfortable doing so; this would appear fake and turn people away. Networking is about selling yourself, and you want to make yourself look good! Show that you are passionate about whatever you are talking about; if you are comfortable doing so, add a personal story related to the conversation. 

The most important thing to remember is that odds are, you aren't the only shy person in the room. There are almost guaranteed to be many other people who are just as nervous and uncomfortable as you are.

Bring a Friend

If you are heading to a big gathering or conference, see if you could bring a friend or co-worker. There is peace in knowing at least one person in the room to help you feel at ease. 

If bringing someone isn't possible, see if there is a Facebook group for attendees or an attendee list. Reach out to see if anyone can meet up for a quick coffee introduction so you will have at least one friendly face. The odds are, the person you are meeting with will feel relieved as well. 

Network with Intention

Set yourself up for success. Go into the event, knowing what you want to get out of it. Are you there looking for new career opportunities? Focus your attention on employers instead of other employees. Are you looking for a new manufacturer? Then focus your attention on conversations with manufacturers.

This is where pre-planning will help. Getting a list of vendors, sponsors, or demonstrators at the conference will help you zone in on who you should be spending your energy talking to. 

This doesn't mean that you should ignore others, because you never know who may be able to help you, but go into the event with a goal in mind. If you can keep that focus, you can politely excuse yourself from a conversation that may be sucking your energy but will not produce the discussion or results you need.

Set Small Goals

No rule says you have to talk to everybody. If you are new at this, then set yourself small goals and give yourself permission to leave when you have hit them.

For example, make it a goal to have three meaningful, quality conversations instead of having twenty mediocre ones. Take it slow and be kind to yourself. Even if you have a small goal, take breaks, and honor your needs by not pushing yourself too far out of your comfort zone. 

Maybe you want to give out ten business cards to people who may help you achieve your objective for going to the networking event. When you hit your goal, make sure you are congratulating yourself. No matter how small the step is, you are still taking it!

Use Your Superpower

Your superpower as an introvert is to stay quiet and listen. So many people at networking events focus on themselves, and they miss opportunities. This is where you stand to gain!

Networking events are usually filled with extroverts who are talking over each other. It will be a welcome change of pace for someone to have you listen and not continuously interrupt. You will make an impact without making yourself uncomfortable. 

Remember the first day of Kindergarten? How nervous you were? Well, going to your first networking event can be just as nerve-racking. Still, you got through kindergarten with minimal crying (hopefully!). You can get through this. You CAN do this! 

Believe in yourself, and worst comes to worst: fake it till you make it! 

How do you overcome your networking fears or worries? Comment below.