Networking: an Introvert’s Perspective

You go to a big party! What do you do?

a) Seek out a few close friends and talk with them one-on-one.

b) Greet as many people as possible and engage with large groups for most of the night.

If you’re an introvert like me, you chose a. While the popular conception of networking sounds like option b, I have still found success by:

1. Leveraging introverted strengths to build relationships and,

2. Going outside my comfort zone for the extroverted leaps that count.

 

Strategy 1: Focus on building relationships; not collecting business cards

This emphasizes one-on-one conversations, reflection on how you can further connect, and writing thoughtful follow-ups. Things I like doing anyway! I go through the following checklist before every networking opportunity.

A) Before: Ask to meet potential mentors at the event with a short email. Research who’s going by browsing the companies in attendance, or the Meetup RSVPs, etc. If you follow a specific leader in your field on Twitter, see if they’ve mentioned the event.

Then, write them a short email introducing yourself and why you’re interested in their work. Mention something that they’ve said that struck you (bonus points if you’ve read their book or blog). Ask if you can meet up during the event and a specific question or topic you’d like to discuss. Make the subject line really descriptive. Even if they don’t read the entire message, this makes the in-person introduction easier. I used this method to talk to 3 different CEOs in my area of interest, the educational games space.

If you want more pointers on this style of email introduction, I highly recommend Ramit Sethi’s stuff on Closing the Loop and his 50 email scripts.

B) During: Find a friendly group of folks (or bring them along) and check in periodically. I still feel awkward at networking events; seeding the crowd with a few friendly faces makes it more fun and sustainable. If I’m going alone to an event I go early before the room is abuzz, I look for small groups of people who aren’t all from the same company and ask if I can join them. I also look for other onlookers – chances are they’re introverts, too. I met my business partner this way – he was a friend of a friend I made at a networking event. We were introduced several months after because I maintained the relationship.

(See also my tactics in Strategy 2 to make this during bit easier and more effective.)

C) After: Maintain the relationship by offering your skills, your time, and relevant news items you find. Periodically send your contacts a friendly email reminding them who you are and why you think they might find this relevant. Say no response is required on their end. You’re providing value to them and it helps form a genuine connection. This really makes you stand out, but you need to be organized and willing to spend the time. I use a Google spreadsheet to help me keep track:

 

That last column is important – make it a goal to keep that date within 3-6 months, depending on how well you know the person.

 

Strategy 2: Make the extroverted leaps that count

Obviously networking is still a highly social activity, but there are ways you can make it easier. These tactics ensure that you reach a diverse set of people without working the crowd on your own.

A) Take the mic at a networking event. If you’re at an event where they open up the mic for anyone to pitch or introduce themselves, seize it (politely). You don’t have to be starting a company; stand up and say you’re a young professional working in X, looking to do Y, and can offer Z. I practically guarantee that people will then come up to you and introduce you to others who could help.

B) Go for facilitated groups during conferences. Especially if you’re going to a conference alone, sign up for whatever icebreaker event they have the night before. The folks you meet during this event will become your friendly faces in the crowd, you’ll eat meals with them and they’ll help you meet others. My scavenger hunt team from the April Gamification conference still stays in touch. One team member introduced me to her daughter, a fashion tech designer, and now we’re working on a toy together.

Variations on this theme include participating in workshops, small group seminars, and day trips.

C) Talk about your project with everyone you meet. One-on-one, they’ll remember your enthusiasm when they meet people who would be interested. Seriously. An acquaintance of mine mentioned my game project to an entrepreneur she met blues dancing… and now I’m working with a bomb illustrator he introduced to me! Later this month, I’m getting coffee with a fellow biker I met while riding around San Francisco. Remember that people love to help!

 

This post was originally published on The Ship Log, which curates introspective entries by entrepreneurs.