In business, it’s more about who you know than what you know. There are many people who get bumped up to first in line for a job because they know someone who knows someone else. Needless to say, relationships are essential to success in the professional world. No man is an island and everyone needs a helping hand to get where they’d like to go. This is why it’s so important to develop the art of networking. Think of networking like speed dating. You get to briefly connect with a bunch of people and if there’s one that really stands out, you can nurture that connection even more. But, what happens if you’re an introvert? By nature, introverts get their energy from being alone and work better on their own. Introverts tend to lose energy when they’re around a lot of people. If you’re an introvert, you’re probably used to people telling you that you need to change who you are in order to network and connect with others in business. However, this isn’t the case. There are ways to utilize your strengths as an introvert and connect with others.
1. Do it on your own terms.
Go into an event knowing how long you’d like to stay and what you like the end result to be. If you go into an event with no plan, you might end up feeling awkward and turn into the wallflower at the sixth-grade dance. Instead, set your timer. If you plan on going for an hour, stick to it. If you meet and connect with someone and the time goes over, that’s okay. But, if you don’t make a worthwhile connection, your hour is up and you’ll know that you gave it an effort. When you shift the networking process and do it on your terms, you won’t be as apprehensive when networking events hit your inbox.
2. Practice.
A great way to network and get your name out there is through public speaking engagements. Most introverts hate the thought of getting on stage in front of a bunch of people. To make things easier, start by gathering people you’re comfortable with (family members and close friends) and start practicing your speeches. Consider enrolling in a public speaking class so that you can get used to the art of public speaking. The more you practice, the better you’ll become. Plus, once you put out the energy to share your message, you’ll target a bunch of people at one time and they’ll flock to you.
3. Listen.
Many introverts are very intuitive and are great listeners, which can make them effective leaders. Listen for details when you’re networking and do your best to capitalize on that when you reconnect with people. When people realize you’re paying attention to them, they’re more likely to respond in a positive way toward you. Nurture connections by listening to people and that’ll go a long way.
