In the common perception of a successful entrepreneur at a major event, the image often involves a talkative, energetic life of the party—a stereotype prevalent in American culture that tends to celebrate extroversion. However, this stereotype overlooks the quieter type of leader, despite 36% of entrepreneurs identifying themselves as introverts.
If you fall into that category, networking might pose a challenge. In such cases, implementing specific strategies becomes crucial to ensure that you don’t fall behind in building your network.
Expanding your network of business connections is paramount. A wide network simplifies the process of finding mentors, partners, advisors, employees, and vendors. Additionally, in the startup phase, you are your brand, and the more people who know you, the more awareness your fledgling company gains.
For introverts, socializing can be uncomfortable, as they often thrive in quieter settings rather than at frenzied happy hours or bustling conferences. Consequently, you might be more hesitant to sign up for traditional, in-person conventions.
Additionally, large networking dinners or crowded industry meetups might seem daunting. Introverts might prefer the calm of a small book club or a focused workshop. The prospect of initiating conversations at large-scale social gatherings like company parties or public seminars might seem overwhelming, leading introverts to favor solitary activities like reading industry journals or attending webinars from the comfort of their homes.
While these behaviors are understandable, they aren’t conducive to growing your network. However, you don’t have to pretend to be an extrovert to become a networking pro. Incorporate these best practices into your schedule.
“I’ve learned that a strong network is the ultimate shortcut to everything you want to achieve!” – Melitta Campbell
1. **Leverage Online Platforms:**
Platforms like LinkedIn are excellent for expanding connections without face-to-face communication. On LinkedIn, you can publish content, comment on others’ articles, search for past colleagues and peers, follow groups, and more—all from the comfort of your desk.
Depending on your brand and business, other online platforms may be valuable for increasing your corporate and personal visibility. For instance, if you sell a product aimed at the consumer market, creating YouTube videos or hosting a Pinterest page could be valuable. While effort is required, you’re in control every step of the way.
2. **Engage in One-to-One Conversations at Events:**
For many introverts, big events can be overwhelming. Attending smaller events and focusing on one-to-one conversations can be an effective workaround.
For instance, signing up for a private mixer of regional CEOs, business owners, and entrepreneurs allows you to focus on talking with individuals rather than navigating a crowded space.
3. **Prepare Talking Points Before Meetings:**
If attending a busy event is unavoidable and you tend to get tongue-tied, prepare talking points to ease into conversations. Though you can’t walk around with a list of talking points, you can spend time writing things down beforehand. Memorize your bullet points to make launching into the topics you’d like to cover less difficult.
There’s no specific arrangement for talking points—just find something that works for you. Some introverted entrepreneurs like to think about questions they could ask someone they’re meeting for the first time, while others prefer jotting down subjects about themselves or their business.
4. **Bring an Extroverted Colleague:**
Consider bringing a more extroverted team member to networking events, such as a salesperson, marketing manager, or HR director. Having someone else with you takes the weight off you to network, allowing the other person to do much of the socializing while you take a more backseat role.
Ensure that your extroverted colleague knows this plan ahead of time. Work together to develop a plan, laying out reasonable goals, such as how many new people you’d like to meet together at the event.
Being an introvert doesn’t hinder your ability to network effectively. By embracing online platforms, focusing on one-to-one interactions, preparing conversation points, and partnering with extroverted colleagues, introverts can effectively expand their networks.
These methods enable introverts to comfortably promote themselves and their businesses, demonstrating that effective networking is achievable for all personality types. With these strategies, you can network like a superstar, gaining all the benefits from knowing a wide range of individuals inside and outside your industry.
