Getting Back to Networking
Going to networking events can be a daunting task, but an important one nonetheless. Personally, after a 6-year hiatus from the professional world, I had forgotten the initial awkwardness of entering a room of strangers and asking them about their work and career aspirations. This last Friday, I finally broke that hiatus.
As you might’ve already concluded, I’m not a business coach or motivational speaker that will give you tips and tricks from hundreds of networking events experienced throughout the years. But, as a fellow colleague getting back on track with the world of small businesses and professional connections, I hope the following list serves as an encouragement to either: try again or give it a try.
1. Everyone is feeling “awkward”
Just because it’s been a while since your last networking event, doesn’t mean everyone else is comfortable with starting conversations. Obviously, there are personalities that are easier to connect with, however, even the most outgoing person is feeling a level of nervousness. According to Yale Medicine, around 13% of Americans experience social anxiety. Remember to take a look around to see if there’s anyone else that is standing alone, chances are, they’ll be glad you took the initiative to speak with them. After all, everyone attending a networking event should expect meeting someone new.
2. Start with a couple goals
Back when I was going to networking events and professional meetups, finishing the night with a stack of business cards and follow-up meetings/emails was normal. But this time around, I kept my expectations realistic. Instead of setting yourself for a personal failure and a feeling of disappointment, start with small and achievable expectations. This will give you a dose of dopamine and make the experience more enjoyable. It could be meeting 2 new people, practicing active listening, or staying for at least an hour. Whatever it is, start small. Once you achieve it, you might realize it wasn’t as hard as you imagined it and end up signing up to the next event.
3. Give yourself a break
Cortisol, our stress hormone, is very helpful in life-or-death situations. But in networking, it ends up blocking us. Maybe you tried talking to a few people and either had really short interactions or maybe nothing more than a “hello”. Whatever the trigger might be, if you find yourself overthinking or stressing, remember you can take a break. A similar experience happened to me at this particular event, and let me tell you, there’s nothing more freeing than remembering: you can take a break! Take the opportunity to walk around and take pictures of the facility and the event. You can later use these in your social media and LinkedIn accounts to further connect with those you meet. You can go to the bathroom, or grab a drink. Whatever it is, take a breath and when you’re ready, come back and try again.
Author: Aisha Arias
Sources:
https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/social-anxiety-disorder
- Cecilia Arias
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