Networking is a valuable skill that can help you advance your career, learn new things, and make meaningful connections. However, not everyone feels comfortable or confident in approaching strangers, making small talk, or promoting themselves. If you are one of those people, or you know someone who is, here are some ways to help them overcome their networking anxiety.
The first step to help someone who is not comfortable with networking is to understand what is causing their discomfort. Is it fear of rejection, lack of confidence, social anxiety, or something else? By identifying the source of discomfort, you can help them address it and find ways to cope with it. For example, if they are afraid of being rejected, you can remind them that networking is not about getting approval, but about building relationships. If they lack confidence, you can help them practice their elevator pitch and highlight their strengths. If they have social anxiety, you can suggest some relaxation techniques or accompany them to events.
Networking is crucial for everyone, who wishes to accelerate the success probability. There could be some solutions to soften the discomfort around networking. 1. Understand your purpose - Networking is NOT merely hi & hello. It is a strategic long term move, done to keep long vision in mind. 2. Find Commonalities - Establish some common grounds between you and next party, upon which the discussion could be started. Eg : Education, Industry of work, Place of birth etc. 3. Practice - Networking is not something we can learn off internet. This is just knowledge, but if you want skill , then you gotta do the deed. Talk, be a little uncomfortable, ask around, share linkedin profiles, take numbers. You got this! :)
To assist someone uncomfortable with networking, start by empathizing with their feelings. Begin with small, low-pressure networking events, setting realistic goals. Help craft an elevator pitch and provide guidance on researching event attendees. Encourage practice, perhaps through role-playing, and recommend networking resources. Accompany them or introduce them to your own network for added comfort. Stress active listening, follow-up, and joining relevant groups. Connect them with a mentor, offer positive reinforcement, and remind them that networking is a skill that improves over time. Emphasize self-care for managing any associated stress or anxiety.
Start small: Set realistic goals: Role-play: Focus on listening: Find common ground: Provide support: Offer positive reinforcement: Provide resources: Encourage follow-up: Seek professional help:
One needs to understand that we are all humans and we all feel certain fears and anxieties like the rest of the people. Remembering this concept can make a person who fears networking and making rapport feel a little more relaxed. All the people who are networking are also going through the same mindset as the person who is uncomfortable. Once you come to that higher realisation, networking becomes very easy.
Network outside your usual contact list. The idea is to meet new contacts and to do this, you will have to step outside the box. While you may need to leave your comfort zone for a bit, you need to figure out what method works best for you. Know your strengths and capitalize them to your advantage. Learn about the person you are talking with – their company, their role, a little bit about them – ask questions (don’t be too nosy) and take the time to show your interest in them. Think not only about what you are looking for but also how you can be of help. Relationships are two-way streets, and building trust is essential to a constructive and genuine partnership.
Another way to help someone who is not comfortable with networking is to set realistic and specific goals for each networking opportunity. Instead of aiming to meet everyone or impress everyone, you can help them focus on a few quality contacts or a few meaningful conversations. For example, you can help them research the attendees or speakers beforehand and choose two or three people they want to connect with. You can also help them prepare some questions or topics to break the ice and show interest. By setting realistic and specific goals, you can help them reduce their stress and measure their progress.
Doing research helps you find a common ground and start conversation. And for each conversation, show that you're intrested.
Networking is important but it can be overwhelming for someone who is not comfortable with it. This can happen due to several reasons. Instead of trying to ignore the reasons and push a person to network, it’s crucial to understand how can that person be supported. For instance if a person is not comfortable socialising with a lot of people at the same time, help them start small. It’s ok to start your journey slowly, to be consistent is key, not quick. Networking can be customised to your personal self. One size fits all approach has never worked for networking.
Talking in front of a mirror helps! Initiating one conversation at a networking event, connecting with two professionals on LinkedIn each week, and attending at least one networking workshop per month.
Start Small: Encourage them to attend smaller, more intimate events to ease into networking. Help them prepare an elevator pitch and conversation starters to feel more confident.
I would like to add that a specific goal could be just to get more comfortable meeting new people and having interesting conversations. Ahead of time, think about what you would like to learn and how you can ask people what you are curious about.
Not all networking events and platforms are suitable for everyone. Some people may prefer smaller or more informal settings, while others may enjoy larger or more structured ones. Some people may feel more comfortable networking online, while others may prefer face-to-face interactions. To help someone who is not comfortable with networking, you can help them choose the right events and platforms that match their personality, preferences, and goals. For example, you can suggest some events or platforms that are relevant to their industry, interests, or skills. You can also help them find some events or platforms that have a friendly or supportive atmosphere, such as mentorship programs, peer groups, or online communities.
Networking is not about trying to fit in to every group but the groups that are like minded people with shared values. Even at events where you may feel like you don't fit in look for your "tribe" within the larger group. If you're somewhat introverted, larger networking groups can be intimidating and draining. So you may want to meet in smaller groups. If extroverted in-person meetings maybe your preference within larger groups.
First I would find out the why. Why the uncomfortableness at networking. Why the reluctance to spend time with business people. What is stopping the person. From here we can understand and develop a plan to resolve.
Finding the right community to network within is critical. What are you looking for? What are the people like? What are you hoping to gain/contribute? How do your values align? These are all important questions to ask yourself before you begin to network.
Identify Common Interests: Suggest finding common interests or topics to discuss to make conversations easier. Attend Together: Offer to attend events with them to provide moral support. Follow Up: Encourage them to follow up with new contacts through email or social media to build relationships.
Opt for smaller, more intimate gatherings initially, and suggest online platforms that align with their industry or niche. This targeted approach can make networking more manageable and effective for them.
One of the most important aspects of networking is following up and following through. This means staying in touch with the people you meet, providing value, and building trust. To help someone who is not comfortable with networking, you can help them follow up and follow through with their contacts. For example, you can help them send a personalized thank-you note, share some useful resources, or offer some assistance. You can also help them follow through with their promises, such as sending a resume, making an introduction, or scheduling a meeting. By following up and following through, you can help them maintain and strengthen their relationships.
The "follow up" and "follow through" is one of the most underrated elements of networking. After presenting at an event leadership in July, many of the young graduates talked about being in touch., very few did. This is a missed opportunity. key tips; Have a simple way to exchange or collect details; i.e. your LinkedIn QR code, smart or conventional business cards. Create a draft message that you can easily send to people that you met at the event. For follow up conversations, book time in the diary at the event (ideally not later or the next day). Have a context or action for the follow up, what are you going to talk about in the first instance. Remember that relationships are built over time, so keep the conversations going.
After networking, promptly express appreciation for the conversation, referencing specific points discussed. Reinforce the connection, provide value, and suggest a follow-up action. Connect on LinkedIn, maintain consistency without being overly persistent, and keep the tone professional. Personalize your communication to make it memorable and express gratitude for the opportunity to connect.
In my opinion, true networking is not transactional. It is about building rapport and relationship. About reciprocity. If you approach any interaction with the intent to reciprocate and to keep the conversation going, you are going to get so much more out of the connection versus treating it as a one-off interaction.
Encourage consistent follow-up and follow-through to assist someone not comfortable with networking. Stress the importance of sending personalized thank-you emails after events, connecting on social media, and scheduling follow-up meetings. This habit strengthens relationships and demonstrates genuine interest in building connections.
The final way to help someone who is not comfortable with networking is to seek feedback and improve. Networking is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice and feedback. To help someone who is not comfortable with networking, you can help them seek feedback and improve their networking skills. For example, you can ask them to reflect on their networking experiences and identify what went well and what could be improved. You can also give them some constructive feedback and suggestions based on your observations or experiences. You can also help them find some resources or courses that can help them learn more about networking and interpersonal communication.
To enable a successful networking event for a person that is uncomfortable participating to these type of events it is important to have a better understanding of the person. What do you know currently about their networking style? Which type of settings is this person comfortable with. Does the purpose/topic of the event align with something that the person relates to? Ideally you could look into events where people have multiple options to engage with each other. Some people need time to prepare for networking events so it is good to give them heads up regarding the schedule / series of events. Lastly, if a person is uncomfortable networking, you could agree to make this teachable moments for the person to develop those skills.
Networking is only awkward if we make it awkward. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to learn about the other person and yourself. We do not need to get overly analytical about how we show up. Biggest advice I could give is to learn to get more and more comfortable showing up as yourself and to asking thought-provoking questions that engage people in the conversation. I always remind myself, "Interesting people are interested."
Advise someone uncomfortable with networking to actively seek feedback on their interactions. Encourage them to ask for constructive input from peers or mentors, and use this feedback to continually improve their networking skills. This iterative process can boost confidence and enhance their overall networking effectiveness.
The best way to help someone who is uncomfortable with networking is to invite them to industry events with you. This will allow them the comfort of going to a social event with a friend, and also allow them to be introduced to their peers by you if they are uncomfortable with meeting new people.
One way to get people involved is to take a step back from what you want them to do. If you're at an event (or whatever the situation) and see someone sitting alone, introduce yourself and say hi. You don't have to talk about the event topic - just be open and friendly. Let them get comfortable. It's easy to say 'let's do this or that' but each person is different and the only way you'll be able to really address their 'networking challenge' is to drop that thought process and simply sit and chat; get to know them. From those discussions you'll then learn what works for them - and what won't. It's a slow process if someone isn't comfortable networking, so pilling on a bunch of actions/ideas at once can be overwhelming.
I would also add that besides showing up as true yourself, giving a try to go agenda free, with a child’s curiosity and a learning mindset, might make the conversation fun for both the parties.
Not sure it's the best way but yes, the reach out to someone whom you can feel need assistance and he/she unable to get connected what's so ever reason. Further arrange some gatherings and provide an open environment to discuss out.
Practice makes perfect. We can add a lot of bullet points to follow but the most optimal; in my opinion; is to actually start networking. Maybe start by only attending events and observing, next time you might be able to kick off a convo with one person. It wont be perfect, maybe even awkward, but the third or the fourth time, it will be better. On the long-term, it will get easier and you will earn a lot of social skills.