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Five Tips That Settled My Fear for Networking Events

“Boss plays favourite”, “…but she joined only a year ago”, “Just because she has a charismatic personality…”, “…but I did more work than her”, “She loves to be a center of attraction”, “so what if I am shy…”—and the list goes on during watercooler conversation every appraisal cycle. We all did good work, some outperformed, and some went above and beyond. We all got appraisals—big or small. However, we failed to shine like that one person who recognized the power of networking and built rapport far and wide within the organization.

The need for networking makes so many of us uncomfortable. Networking is named phony, exploitative, unauthentic and even dirty by executives, professionals and MBA students, as explained in a Harvard Business Review article. However, in the competitive world, networking is still an important factor and many a times part of job role KPIs. Some professions depended on it—Lawyers, their success depends on their ability to network with clients and bring business to the firm. It’s the same for sales professionals and many other occupations that make direct or indirect sale.

My mindset towards networking changed as I advanced in my digital marketing seminar series course. My professor Nicole invited renowned and distinguished marketing professionals from varied industries every week. Students got a chance to learn from their experience and case studies. I got inspired by the connections Nicole had, which also gave students the opportunity to form our own network. In this article, I would like to share five tips that helped me overcome an aversion to networking:

Curiosity: Conversations led with curiosity often end with learning outcome. Networking is as simple as meeting someone new and being curious about many things an individual may possess (professionally, in this context). Think about questions on a professional’s journey, how they like what they do, what challenges they encounter, how you can help, if there is a skill or quality the you can learn from the person or include in your professional life, etc.

Preparing for the networking events and learning a little about participants could naturally spark curiosity and the event could be approached with excitement and an open mind about all the possibilities that might unfold.

2. What can you offer: To start with, it is good exercise to make a list of your strengths and skills. Even when you do not share an interest with someone, you can probably find something valuable to offer by thinking beyond the obvious. For example, if you are an application developer, you may help an executive solve a problem through coding. If you are in market research, you may have some great market insight to provide. To the least, if you are the most junior at the event, you may have gratitude to express towards your boss or superiors.

3. Set small goals: Often, thinking of talking to a room full of people may trigger anxiety. Networking itself may sound like a negative term because of its association to a formal event. The trick is to keep your goal small and think of every small event you are good at as networking, be it birthday parties, a gaming event at your office, or simply meeting a likeminded professional on LinkedIn. Go with the goal of having a conversation with only two new people at any event, and if you end up enjoying it, expand your reach.

4. Embrace the power of virtual world: The post Covid 19 world has opened up virtual avenues. We have the opportunity to avoid physical meeting as most events take place either online only or are hybrid these days. It is easy to participate in an online event, ask questions, meet new people and connect with them at mutual convenience. Besides, online events save so much time. Also, if you realize the event is not for you, it is easier to move out and on without any awkward moments.

5. Find your purpose: Whether networking in an event or on social media, it is imperative to know your purpose. Think about what you need or what can be imparted prior to participating in the event. Basically, finding value in what we do is of utmost importance. For example, only promoting a firm may feel selfish, but promoting a firm which does good for the planet may feel like working on a purpose. Similarly, cultivating a relationship for your career growth may not feel appropriate, but knowing that your skillset is unique and should be known and valued may establish a sense of purpose.

To conclude, there is no need to fear the term networking as it is something we do in our daily lives, sometimes subconsciously. Taking interest and finding your comfort zone when connecting with people is the key. If you find this article helpful, don’t shy away from connecting with me with your purpose.