If you are a shy person, you may feel that being asked to attend a conference or industry event and network is one of the worst things that can happen to you. It can be difficult but it is important that you realise that there is nothing to be overly scared of. Yes, you will need to step up a new challenge but plenty of people in this position have managed it in the past and you can do so too.
Here are some networking tips for shy people.
Be who you are
You may want people to think that you have something great to offer them but in reality, you will be much better off being honest with who you are. You never know, you may find that people think that what you offer is going to be of interest to them anyway. There is also a lot to be said for the fact that if you are being honest and true to yourself, you will feel a lot more relaxed. This will help you to get your points across and you will feel more confident doing what you do best.
Less if often more
You can tell when many people are nervous when they network because they never stop talking. It is only natural for some people to go on and on when they are nervous or are unsure exactly what they should offer, but this is not the best way to move forward or make a connection with people.
If you are looking to be a success when it comes to moving forward, you should realise that being selective is the way to go. You don’t have to attend every event and you don’t need to feel as though you have to shake hands with everyone. In fact, choosing the events that are best for you and trying to connect with people who can help you or who you can help is a far better use of your time as opposed to trying to meet everyone.
Focus on making a positive first impression
Prepare yourself to be positive, pleasant and polite right from the start because the first impression you make on people is likely to be the impression that they remember. This is why you should prepare yourself beforehand and be ready to say a bit about you and what you are looking for from the conference.
When you feel confident about what you have to do and say, it will come across better, which is definitely something that you should be looking for.
Volunteer for certain jobs
If you are unsure or uncertain about networking, it may be best for you to volunteer to do some jobs or tasks at the event. This means that people will have a reason to come and speak to you and you’ll have a reason to go and speak to people. This is a great way to break the ice, but you can also position yourself as someone who is helpful, honest and able to make a difference when dealing with people.
This is exactly the sort of image that many people are looking to create when networking with others and this will be something that you can achieve quickly and easily when you volunteer at major events.
You need to make sure that you are at the right event for you, your career plans and your business. It may be that going to Cannes sounds like ma great idea but you need to remember that Cannes hosts conferences and industry events all year round. If you have an interest in the foreign property market, you’ll find that MIPIM in Cannes is a great event and one that will provide you with the ideal chance to network.
If you do head to Cannes, you’ll find that you will feel perfectly relaxed thanks to the great accommodation, stunning setting and perfect
Set yourself goals about what you want to achieve and what you want to get across. This will provide you with the best way to judge your progress and give yourself new things to aim for. Even the most confident people had to start somewhere so don’t feel as though everyone else is brilliant at networking and were born that way. There is a great deal to be said for pushing yourself to do and learn something new and learning how to network is a great talent to have.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.