24 Sep 09 Professional Networking For Shy People

Trying to network when you happen to be a shy person can be a very daunting task.  The hardest thing to do sometimes in your professional life is stepping outside of your comfort zone.  But in an economic downturn, it’s more important than ever to get your name out there.  Maintaining a good score card at your current company just isn’t enough anymore, as that position is not as guaranteed as in the past.  Only by making sure others are aware of your skills, and track record, can you ensure that you’re as hirable as possible, should anything happen.

Preparing for the worst is never a bad idea, and that’s especially true of your job.  Try to keep that in mind as you brave the networking world, despite your shyness.  It’s rough, but try going to professional networking events around you.  Whether it be seminars in your field, or any other gathering of the like where other professionals are likely to be found.  Or if it helps don’t think of this as just job related, but rather a chance for you to meet more people in the same area as you are.  Developing professional relationships with others that know what you’re going through is always a good thing.

Now you just have to battle the route cause of your tendency to be shy in public gatherings.  If you fear that you don’t have anything interesting to say, prepare for that beforehand.  Because a professional atmosphere is much different than a regular social gathering, just being knowledgeable about your industry is a good start.  If you’re good at your job, you’re already well prepared.  Just make industry related insights, and you can make connections either with people that share those thoughts, or those that are intrigued by such thinking.

Finally, it’s always a good strategy to bring someone you know to an event, so that you have a partner.  You may feel more at ease by bringing a colleague, or friend that you have in the same industry.  Anything that helps you feel relaxed and casual.  Stay courteous and positive, and you’ll find networking to be pretty easy.  You just have to extend your hand so someone else can take hold.

Tags: Bad Idea, Colleague, Comfort Zone, Current Company, Daunting Task, Economic Downturn, Hardest Thing, Insights, Networking World, Professional Atmosphere, Professional Life, Professional Networking Events, Professional Relationships, Public Gatherings, Relationships With Others, Score Card, Seminars, Shy Person, Shyness, Tendency