Networking for Introverts

One thing that we hate to hear people say is “I just don’t have the personality to be a good networker” Perhaps it’s because we’ve had our own bouts with shyness, but it drives us crazy to see people resign themselves to failure without even trying to overcome their shortcomings. We love every last person who’s kind enough to follow our writings, so consider this tough love: saying you can’t be a good networker is almost always an excuse people use because they’re too afraid and too lazy to try. Here’s another harsh truth: no matter what job you hope to get or what business you’re trying to get off the ground, you’re not in good shape if you aren’t willing to network. Fortunately, there’s one more truth: great networking is not about being the most outgoing guy or girl in the room.

In truth, great networking has surprisingly little to do with being extroverted. Sure, it’s a lot harder to take the first step in networking (reaching out to a person and introducing yourself) if you’re naturally shy. But, unless you’re suffering from a legitimate psychological condition, reaching out to a person is still a hurdle that can easily be cleared. As with most things, great networking is not about how you star; it’s about how you finish.

We recently read an excellent post on networking by Amanda Collins over at The Grammar Doctors. While the whole piece is worth your time, there was one part in particular that stuck out to us:

The likelihood that you’ll score a client or referral partner after attending anything once is pretty low. You need to continue making an appearance, connecting with people, and being consistent. Be patient. It may take a number of weeks or months to create relationships and generate sales.

Ultimately, networking is about that creation of relationships. The first impression is important, but relationships aren’t built on the first impression nearly as much as the second and third and fourth impressions. Because of that, great networking is about following up on that first impression. It’s about showing the other person how ambitious you are, and how serious you are about business. Perhaps more importantly, it’s about letting the other person get to know you, and trust you, and like you. You don’t have to be extroverted to do any of these things. Ultimately, all you should really have to be is yourself (unless you’re lazy or sociopathic). In the coming weeks, we’ll be putting up a few posts that will help you build a network by introducing people to the great person you know you are.

In the meantime, if that ending was a little too sweet for you, please feel free to cleanse the palate with this stock footage of atomic bomb testings: