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Time and again, we witness women in our circles attending events and clustering around the couple of people they already know. I get it. There is safety in what you know. Meeting new people is hard. How is it that some seem to network effortlessly? There must be something in their genes, right?
I am in a role that requires me to meet new people. My very professional existence is tied to being good at creating new connections. Now, those that know me can attest that I do have a gift for gab, but is being able to talk enough? Is sales success reserved for only the outgoing and the master networkers?
I have had the pleasure of attending workshops and sessions over the years and can say that one stood out as challenging that very ideology. One of those evets was a Learning Lab billed as “a fun, fast-paced experiential workshop that catapults your attitudes and actions…(and) demonstrates an easy four-step process that teaches you how to communicate what you do in a way that has others wanting to know more.”
The speaker’s core philosophy is that anyone can be an effective networker. Whether you love making new connections or would rather be in the dentist’s chair, there are simple ways to conquer your anxiety by preparing yourself in advance.
If you knew you had to give a PowerPoint presentation to a client, you would certainly prepare ahead of time. Knowing that you’re going to have the chance to make new business connections is no different. If you think about and actually practice how to introduce yourself before you’re in a networking situation, then you’re ready for it. Anxiety eases when you know you studied for the test, trained before the 5k run or prepped for the meeting.
I did enjoy the session and had fun role playing with strangers and building my own self-introduction, but I think the most important take-away from the day was this: Introverts can be master networkers, too, because they naturally do the one thing that can set them apart: they listen.
In the end, the ones who listen, whether outgoing or introverted, have a leg up on making a connection. When you listen, really listen, you have the opportunity to make the interaction more meaningful. You get the chance to ask the questions that will take that chance encounter to a new level.
As American marketing specialist, Guy Kawasaki, puts it, “The mark of a good conversationalist is not that you can talk a lot. The mark is that you can get others to talk a lot. Thus, good schmoozers are good listeners, not good talkers.”
A person might not meet your target profile, but before you dump them, take the time and listen to see if their network includes someone that does. A warm introduction is the best kind.
So, can you be a good networker no matter your personality? Absolutely! If you were able to learn how to tie a shoe or ride a bike, you can learn to network. It takes practice and sometimes a workshop or two, but anyone can do it and learn to do it well.
