An Introvert's Guide To Networking

Prior to the days of Twitter and LinkedIn, email was the only way to connect with people in advance of a conference or workshop. Now, thanks to social media, you can strike up informal conversations long before an event officially begins, meaning you no longer have to conjure up witty ice-breakers on day one. If the event has a dedicated hashtag, try browsing through it to see who you would be interested in meeting in person. Do a bit of research to find out what interests you have in common, and send them a message to get the ball rolling.

Start Small

Whenever possible, seek out opportunities for one-to-one conversations and avoid large groups, where you are likely to feel overwhelmed. Starting the morning with a few one-to-one meetings can make it easier to break into group conversations as the day goes on, and you can ask existing connections to introduce you to new people.

Listen

Uncomfortable under the spotlight? Well, when it comes to networking, that can actually come in pretty handy.

Most people like to talk about themselves, so prepare a few stock questions that don’t require simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. Listen carefully to what they have to say, and ask follow-up questions that invite them to expand on their previous statements. If you’re meeting several people at once, try to identify common points of interest in the group, and tailor your questions accordingly.

Change Your Mindset

This might sound like a tall order, but changing your attitude towards networking can have a profound influence on how much you get out of it. Ironically, one of the reasons people feel inauthentic or dirty when networking is precisely the fact that they view the activity as self-centered or transactional, geared towards ‘getting something out’ of somebody else.

So, instead of dwelling on what your network can do for you, try to focus on what you can do for your network. What technical expertise can you share with others that will make them more effective in their roles? What social connections could you introduce to one another to spark a new collaboration? Even if you feel like you don’t have much to offer, something as simple as thanking someone for an engaging session can go a long way towards building your network.

Recharge

Introversion is often mistakenly regarded as an innate shyness. However, it is not so much that introverts fear social interaction, but rather that it ultimately leaves them feeling mentally and physically drained. [3]

In contrast to extroverts, introverted people draw their energy from moments of quiet reflection, and it is important to bear this in mind when attending a networking event. Be sure to set aside enough time each day to do what you do best: think and reflect. Eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep will likely prove more valuable than squeezing in one more session at a conference.

And Finally...

If you know you aren’t at your best in a conference environment, it’s worth thinking about planning your own event. Make a list of the people you want to connect with, and reach out to them to suggest meeting up for dinner or coffee. Think carefully about the venue for your event, and try to ensure that your invitees have common interests so that it won’t be up to you to direct the conversation. [4]