Let me preface this by saying that I relate as an introvert with extroverted tendencies. I usually choose to stay in to recharge but I also really enjoy hanging out with my best girlfriends as well. I’m usually reserved in public setting but if I’m with a large group of friends, my extroverted tendencies come out.
Okay, now that that’s out there, let me tell you about my first networking event since going to business school.
I recently went to a Leading Moms event, where they celebrated the top 30 mommy bloggers in Vancouver. I was invited by my former business mentor and I thought it would be a great way to get out of the house. For those that don’t know, I’m on maternity leave with my second baby girl and you sure get sick of staring at the same four walls of your home very quickly… I’m also considering a career change so, I thought this event would be a great way to get myself out there and get inspired by some amazing women doing amazing things.
I mainly wanted to attend the talks and skip the reception (this was the networking part for me) because, as I stated at the beginning, I’m an introvert. Ever since business school, I’ve always hated networking. Small talk is not my forté and I’m incredibly awkward when it comes to starting a conversation with a complete stranger. I also have a bit of anxiety about being alone in a crowded room. But, I pushed myself to buy tickets for both the reception and the talks. I knew this would be good for me but it made me nervous as hell.
A few days beforehand, I Googled “networking tips” and did some homework. I felt prepared but on my drive to the venue, nerves started getting the best of me. I was going alone and I only knew one person going to the event, my former business mentor, and I knew she’d be busy talking to others. I kept telling myself that it was going to be okay and I had set a goal for myself to speak to 5 people at the event. I figured that after I’d done that, I could revert to my introverted self and nom on some food in the back corner (teehee).
It was so nerve-racking walking into the reception room solo but I just took a deep breath, looked around, and decided to visit the buffet table first. As I scanned the room, I noticed that most people were already clustered into groups. My strategy was to try and talk to people that were alone, since that seemed less daunting. But there were hardly any! I started to panic a little but saw some vendor booths so, I headed there first to calm my nerves and buy some time. This was basically my strategy when I couldn’t find someone to talk to.
I eventually made eye contact and smiled at someone and we chatted for a bit. After a few minutes I could feel the conversation straining so I excused myself by saying I needed to refill my glass of water. I pretty much repeated this process until it was time for the talks. It was definitely stressful in the moment but, after some reflection, it didn’t need to be. It was a great learning experience and it’ll help me network better next time.
Here’s what I’d do differently next time:
- Stay in one spot for a few minutes instead of wandering the room. It’ll be easier to make eye contact with people if I’m still. Bonus, I’ll get to enjoy my food more.
- Bring a friend and try networking as a pair. Or, we could split up and arrange to meet back up after we’d talked to x amount of people.
- Have a little wine to calm the nerves 😉
Do any of you have tips for networking as an introvert?
Living Life 