I would say that about 90 percent of the clients I work with say they “hate networking” or don’t know how to network. Networking is particularly anxiety provoking for people who identify as introverts.
Even people who spend a lot of time in the public eye or are public speakers can be introverts. In “4 Networking Tips for Introverts,” a recent post on entrepreneur.com, Carol begins:
“I have a bold personality and play myself on television, so many people find it hard to believe I am truly an introvert. I would much prefer to stay home by myself than to socialize. In fact, my biggest nightmare is a huge convention setting.
I find that the whole concept of establishing any relationship with total strangers and converting them into treasured resources can be overwhelming. But, I am also a public speaker and I know how important a strong network is for an entrepreneur, so networking has to be part of the business plan.
So, what do you do when you would rather hide in a corner than make small talk?
With a clear understanding of what networking is really all about, anyone — from the life of the party to the shyest wallflower — can develop a great business network.
Here are four of my best tips introverts can use to develop the valuable business relationships that they need.”
You can read the rest of the post here.