Networking is seen by many introverts as a 'must'. Talking about little things and large groups of people make it a challenge. However, you can make it a lot more fun if you learn to do this your own way. A few tips for networking as an introvert.
Prepare well
An introvert likes to think before speaking, which can make it difficult to respond spontaneously. Preparing yourself well can help you to be less surprised while networking. Check in advance who has registered for a particular meeting and who you would like to speak to. Also think of a few questions to ask and think about what you would like to tell them.
Do you know no one at all and do you find it difficult to approach someone just like that? Often there are more people who come to a meeting alone, which makes the threshold a bit lower for joining. Or take a moment to absorb the space with a cup of coffee in your hand. The calmness you radiate makes you approachable for others.
Go for quality
It is a misconception that networking is mainly about speaking to as many people as possible in as little time as possible. That doesn't fit the introvert's preference to have in-depth conversations at all. Therefore, go for quality rather than quantity. Find a conversation partner with whom you can have a good conversation and really go into depth. These are the conversations that someone else will remember and that may be of benefit to you in the future.
Be gentle with yourself
Introverts have a strong inner critic. It often appears when you do something that takes you out of your comfort zone, such as networking. If you notice that while networking you are inclined to tell yourself things like 'what a stupid comment' or 'you have nothing to add here', realize that this will actually hinder your networking. Accept the fact that you find it exciting and allow yourself the space to slowly get better at it. You are often the biggest obstacle to the successful completion of a network conversation.
Don't ignore yourself
Introverts prefer not to be in the foreground and give a lot of space to the other. This can cause them to end up with too little space themselves, which certainly also is the case during network conversations. Don't be too quick to think that the other person will not be interested in what you have to say, but try it out. Only then will you find out how the other person will actually react. If you tell passionately about what you're interested in, that is often enough to keep the other interested.
Use online channels
Networking is no longer just physical. Networks such as LinkedIn offer countless additional opportunities to connect and network with others. Because it is often easier as an introvert to write something down than to tell it, you can make good use of those online channels. Once you have made contact, the threshold for speaking to each other live is often a lot lower. So take advantage of it.
Would you like to learn how to deal with introverted challenges such as networking? You will learn a lot more about this in my training The Power of Introversion.
