An Introvert’s Guide to Networking
How to thrive in a room full of strangers
‘Why are you so quiet?’ That’s what my wife often says when she organises a dinner party with a dozen people. Let’s get this out of the way; I am a fully paid-up member of the Introverts Club. I am the kind of guy that is exhausted after a day of meetings, needs time alone, and would much rather have a night out with a single friend, not ten.
Sound familiar?
So how did I get to love networking and thrive in a room full of strangers? And, more to the point, how can you do it too?
Why network anyway?
Well, if you are like me, you are a business owner or entrepreneur that needs to widen his or her network to find new business or partnership opportunities. Your business is ticking along nicely, but is, by and large, relying on referrals. You have tried marketing in so many different ways — blogging, social media, direct mail — but you are running out of options. Your approach has been throwing it at the wall to see what sticks. It’s a long game, but deep down in your heart of hearts, you know you have to start networking.
Your friends and colleagues have told you that networking is one of the quickest ways to become part of a community of like-minded people. It’s obvious when you think about it; this group of people all have a unifying reason to be in that room. (More on this later.)
Let’s step outside work for a moment. Ever joined a cycling club, or running club? Everyone loves their sport, and those shared passions make conversation so, so easy! It’s no different from wanting to move your business into another sector.
Feeling the fear
You know it all makes sense, but deep down you have this gut-wrenching fear of (raise hands to make rabbit ear quote marks) networking. You may even make excuses, and say that’s not for me. Or, even worse, you attend your first event with a colleague or business partner and do nothing but talk to each other.
Eventually, you step in to a room full of strangers and hide in the corner, speak to no one and leave feeling crestfallen and hate yourself. I’m not a wallflower. I can talk to people. Why is it so hard for me to…
