Networking for Introverts: 3 Steps to Do It Naturally
Lifestyle FashionSomeone once said, “You make a very good impression of yourself.” Now, here are 3 simple steps to making the best first and lasting impression possible, while interacting naturally, whether or not you’re an introvert, shy, or reserved.
Step 1 – let your mouth do the talking: First, make peace with the idea that you will need to actively and regularly tell people about your accomplishments. You cannot depend on others to read your mind or ask about your accomplishments. These achievements can be: testimonials received or experienced results from your clients, your latest promotions and/or other relevant news.
For example, lately, I sometimes share with other networkers the fact that I attract and work with many introverted, shy and reserved entrepreneurial clients. Surprisingly, the response I get from others is often, “I’m an introvert!” The Universe is certainly reliable – you can count on it to do your job of bringing like-minded people together.
What you may perceive as bragging, others around you will often see as: “I’m so glad you told me about this; I never would have known you work with people like me!” Why? Because the reality is that few people pay full attention to what is being expressed and instead care more about themselves.
Step 2 – Let your fingers do the talking: After collecting business cards from people you enjoyed talking to, prepare and email a follow-up note or send them a greeting card. (Introverts tend to be more convincing and persuasive writers than oral communicators.) This way, you can be sure to communicate exactly what you mean.
Step 3: Lead by example: Also, while self-promotion is key to attracting more success into your life, it can never act as a substitute for doing good work that sells itself. According to Marshall Goldsmit, author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, “Being smart turns people on. Announcing how smart you are turns people off.” When your job or alignment is aligned with your natural work style, self-promotion becomes much easier.
According to Donna Dunning, author of What’s Your Type of Career, introverts fall into these four main categories of work styles:
(1) Analyzers: They prefer to work alone: absorb and analyze information, solve problems and work independently. Examples: computer scientists, economists, engineers, researchers and programmers.
(two) assimilators: They prefer to have a stable structure: adhere to procedures, as well as process and categorize detailed information. Examples: administrators, healthcare workers, librarians, supervisors, and veterinarians.
(3) Enhancers: They are behind-the-scenes workers, who generally avoid promoting themselves and love to build personal relationships and make things work for groups. Examples: administrative assistants, nutritionists, personal trainers, social workers, and therapists.
(4) Visionaries: They are general planners, who enjoy integrating ideas and developing mental models to interpret experiences. Examples: architects, lawyers, consultants, designers, doctors, researchers, and strategic planners.
Which describes you best? Are you in the right context and career for your natural style of work? Also, while it’s important to recognize and understand your introverted tendencies, you can still be happy and successful in traditionally extroverted careers, such as sales and teaching.
In short, Speak, Write, Act.