An Introvert & Networking

Copyright © 2007 davidwallphoto.com

Like a nervous giraffe stealing a drink from a watering hole in the savanna as a pride of lions looks on is not far off how I feel when I first enter a networking event.

I know I am not the only one who feels out of their element when trying to strike up a conversation with someone they don’t know. But given the environment I guess you could say we are all in this together. I just wonder if other people have to take a week off from talking for each event they attend. It’s not like I am working on new material in between gigs, it just takes a lot out of me to appear ‘on’. I also take things to heart, so when people say “gosh, there are a lot you Web designers/developers around and staring their own businesses” I immediately feel like a rushed and hated sequel – think Star Drones.

My general tactic is to bounce between people, the bar and the buffet. If I lose my nerve, don’t see a friendly face or an open group, I head straight to the bar or the buffet. Even if I don’t need another drink or another chip with salsa (which are impossible to eat without spilling tomatoes down the front of yourself) I use the time to take a deep breath before plunging back in. It seems to work for me but probably looks erratic to someone observing me from a distance as I boomerang around the room. But I would say to them, “hey, you try introducing yourself while trying to quell the booming question in your head “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”.

One unexpected piece of goodness out of the whole networking thing is that I’ve been invited for coffee by a couple of different folks. Of course, this requires more talking and longer periods of recovery but it’s enjoyable to talk with people outside of my normal day-to-day.

So, because I am new to socializing with a purpose how will I know if I am doing it correctly, if I am successful networker? Collecting biz cards does not seem good enough; you can collect a bunch, stick them in cute/hip card folder and never look at them again. Is it having people ask me out for coffee? Is it noticing I am taking fewer naps after each engagement?  Is it getting a job?