HOW TO NETWORK WHEN YOU’RE SOCIALLY AWKWARD

IF YOU’RE AN ODDBALL, NETWORKING CAN SOMETIMES FEEL DREADFUL

All these people gathered in one space, making small talk and you’re shuffling your feet pretending to be absolutely fascinated by the architecture of the ceiling before you fake a phone call and dash off apologetically to a quiet corner or visit the loo as an attempt to do a few laps across the room- you repeat these steps before you eventually retire to a corner and hang out with that friendly looking pot.

C’mon! Who are we kidding? Networking can be a NIGHTMARE if you’re socially awkward – Not sure if you are? Take this fun quiz!

Luckily, it doesn’t have to feel as dreadful! When you value ‘connecting’ over networking, things become a little less dreary – maybe even comfortable. Here are some oddball-friendly tricks to excel at networking events.

SET A TIME FRAME

Allow yourself enough time to make an appearance, waltz through, engage in some chit chat and exit before things get out of control.

Tell everyone that you have another engagement and you have to leave early – this way you show up and don’t portray yourself to be anti-social as you really are but also meet your own needs. Win Win!

You could alternate your time frame between 30 minutes to an hour or a little more – the latter if you live in the suburbs (So, it doesn’t feel like a waste of time, energy and money travelling all the way to the city).

FIND A WINGMAN

Invite one of those extroverted friends to help break the ice with strangers or find another shrinking violet to share your misery. But make sure it’s someone who complements you and not steals your thunder!

Your wing man/woman can be your partner in establishing contact, can act as a buffer and make conversation more dynamic, or act as your safe pad to retreat to when you feel drained or want to depart from your quest for connections.

OWN YOUR AWKWARDNESS

 Be witty if you can muster it and acknowledge your flaws. Being friendly and personable is equally important while being confident.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you pitch yourself to a possible client with a line like “I’m socially awkward and probably will make a run for it halfway through an assignment,” but you can be a little more open about your awkwardness.

Larry King admitted to being nervous before he went on air for the first time – 68 years and $150 million dollars later that doesn’t seem to have hurt him.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN INTRODUCTION

 The best thing about the digital age is that we can follow most people online.

Using social media as a conversation starter at a networking event makes it so much easier. For instance, if you’ve connected with someone over Twitter or Instagram and saw photos from their recent vacation, Voilà! you’ll have a ready-made conversation starter when you meet in person. The conversation will go smooth from there onward to both of your relief. It also shows you care in an authentic way.

NETWORKING ONLINE

As a socially awkward person, social media is your best friend. Here are a few ways to start making connections online.

MEET PEOPLE IN FACEBOOK GROUPS

 A great place for feedback or referrals are specific Facebook groups. You can ask a question or join an existing thread to keep the conversation going. Adding value in these groups will help you network in a less painful way. Creative’s Corner and  the EPFS community are great places to start.

PARTICIPATE IN TWITTER CHATS

Twitter chats are great to make connections in real-time! There are many reasons why you should participate in Twitter chats like growing your following, sharing your expertise, and sparking collaborations. You never know who you could meet.

I’m still a twitter noob, but I’d love to connect with you there and participate in the conversation.

What are your favoUrite ways to network? Let me know in the comment section below.