If you are introverted or shy, try to leverage online platforms like LinkedIn to initiate a first connection before attending in-person events. This approach will ease the pressure of face-to-face interactions. For instance, joining relevant online groups or forums and engaging in discussions allows you to establish a rapport and get to know people in a less intimidating environment. Then, when you attend events, you'll already have a few familiar names and shared interests to talk about, making the whole experience less daunting. This strategy helped me transition from online conversations to in-person meetings more comfortably, gradually building my confidence and network over time.
For quiet or reserved people, asking open-ended questions and listening to the responses is a good way to network. Focusing on the other person instead of oneself may help ease some of the tension and discomfort that accompany social interactions. In addition to helping others establish rapport, introverts who show genuine interest in other people's perspectives also facilitate others' participation in conversations. Encouraging strong relationships with individuals through common interests and experiences rather than focusing on my self-consciousness helped me get over my shyness.
As a naturally reserved person, I used to avoid large networking gatherings. The strategy that helped me overcome this was setting a goal to have a few substantive conversations, rather than trying to mingle with everyone. This quality-over-quantity approach reduced the pressure I put on myself. Focusing on meaningful interactions enabled me to open up genuinely. Over time, I built key connections that led to career opportunities. Setting small, focused objectives empowered me to network effectively as an introvert. This tip can work for any shy person looking to expand their professional relationships.
As an introvert myself, I can only recommend my personal approach! Before a networking event, the organisers are usually happy to share a guest list. I would recommend identifying people that you would like to talk, and then finding them on LinkedIn. Browse their posts, comments and professional history and note down a few talking points. Connecting with them too always helps. In this way, you can approach your contacts directly on the day, and open the conversation with something relevant you've seen on their feed. This will help generate a smooth introduction, ongoing conversation and opens the possibility to talking further online after the event.
As an introvert, one networking tip that helps me is to always think what help or value I'm providing to the customer or person I'm interacting with. Before I can start the conversation, I plan ahead with this idea in mind. That it's not about me, but about helping the other person. So when I talk to the customer, person, or audience, I focus on delivering the value rather than on myself. This has helped me tremendously over the years where I am comfortable speaking to even a large audience as long as it's planned ahead.
Networking Tip for an introvert As an introvert, networking can be tricky. One networking tip I would suggest to introverts is setting realistic interaction goals. As an introvert, you should never pressure yourself to talk to everyone in the room. Rather, try to speak to four or five new people. This interaction will help you become familiar with new faces and industry experts. As an introvert, I have always tried to make new friends without any pressure. Whenever I am in a professional setup, I prefer discussing shared interests with people. This helps me build more connections and boosts my confidence.
As an extremely shy person starting, networking events intimidated me. The strategy that helped me overcome this was arriving early. This allowed me to meet people in smaller groups at first to warm up socially. Starting with a few friendly faces made approaching larger crowds less stressful later on. Over time, this boosted my confidence to connect more proactively. Arriving early let me ease into events at my own pace. Taking small steps to acclimate to the social setting enabled me to network effectively over time, despite my introverted tendencies. It can work for any shy person looking to build connections.
As a tech CEO and a formerly introverted individual, I deeply understand the struggle of networking for shy people. One advice that tremendously helped me is what I call 'Networking by Collaboration'. Start by getting involved in group projects. Whether it's at work, school, or even a local community group. It’s less intimidating as the focus is more on the task to be accomplished, not just the conversation. It also offers valuable opportunities to communicate in a safer space, showcase your skills, and build professional relationships naturally. It's realistic, gives a sense of belonging, and certainly helped me overcome my shyness.