Networking as an Introvert

Naturally, I’m an introvert that feels most comfortable drawing my energy and inspiration from having downtime and personal introspective time. This doesn’t mean I’m shy or can’t be outgoing, but it means that it takes some effort on my part to engage with large groups of people and network properly. At the same time, early on in my career I realized the importance of needing to put myself out there, network and build and maintain important relationships. As an introvert, sometimes the thought of networking in a large group can be daunting. That’s why I developed a different mindset and began to look at networking differently. In doing so, I was able to eliminate (or almost eliminate) the anxiety that comes with networking as an introvert. Here are some tips to consider when building your network if you’re an introvert like myself:

Start Small

When you think of networking, I’m guessing you think of the large networking event at a conference or a dedicated networking lunch, dinner or speaker event. Guess what? It doesn’t need to be that way. It can be in the cafeteria at work. A simple conversation in line to pay for your coffee can lead to a longer conversation down the line. You never know when you’re going to walk into a room for a meeting and find that person you’ve had casual conversations with sitting at the table. All of a sudden you have a leg up on those that haven’t had those casual conversations.

Start Within Your Network

Networking with strangers can be daunting and paralyzing for some. I think people often forget that they already have a strong network already, whether it’s within their family, circle of friends, classmates or colleagues. I recently was chatting with a former classmate about a non-profit he was starting and he realized that I had a lot of experience when it came to marketing and social media. We had a great conversation that led to a second meeting to talk about his social media strategy. After that meeting, he introduced me to another friend that was also looking for some advice as she started her own business.

So remember, if you’re looking for advice on a topic or a job, your family, friends, classmates and colleagues can be a great starting point. Just know that nothing will ever happen if you don’t speak up. Don’t expect your contacts to read your mind and know what you need from them though. Speak up!

Wear a Smile

For most, the most difficult part of networking with strangers is the thought of going up to them and trying to start a conversation. If you can at least get yourself to an event with strangers to network, it might take you a little while to feel comfortable and work up the courage to approach someone. If you’re nervous and uncomfortable it will often show in your body language. If you make yourself appear approachable, others will approach you and start a conversation with you. This means that you should smile, look up (not at the floor) and maintain good posture. There are plenty of people out there that love the thrill of approaching someone new and starting an interesting conversation. If you can’t bring yourself to approach someone new right away, at least make yourself approachable to those that feel comfortable doing so.

Don’t Dismiss The Written Word

It’s not always possible to have a face-to-face meeting with people given schedules and locations. People move around and have busy travel schedules. That doesn’t mean you can’t continue to connect with your network online in one way or another. Using a point-in-time event is a great way to reconnect with someone and start a discussion, even if it is over email. Just recently I had a couple of former colleagues and classmates send me a few notes when there was some big news at my company. Some I hadn’t heard from in a few years, but through this interaction we began chatting again for a while. That being said, nothing can ever really replace the in-person meeting to network, but sometimes the written word will do just fine given the situation. There are so many tools available to us today that we can leverage in this aspect, from email to LinkedIn to Twitter.

Do you consider yourself an introvert as well? If so, what tips can you give others when it comes to networking?