I’m an introvert.
Well, there seems to be a curve when it comes to people’s personalities.
Some skew more toward being extroverts while others, like me, skew more toward being on the introvert side.
I do like people and I enjoying meeting new people and spending time with friends and family.
However, one thing I’ve noticed from observing people is that introverts seem to need to be alone and recharge after spending time with others. They like the experience, but they have to come home and be alone for a while to kind of get their energy back.
Extroverts seem to have the opposite problem. They know that it’s good to have some alone time where they can just think and do work, but that takes a lot of their energy. So they need to go out and be around people to recharge.
I don’t know if there is science behind that, but it’s been my observation and I can definitely vouch for the introvert side of things.
Going To Networking Events
This past week I was asked about how to build a business.
One thing I’ve found that is important is being involved in the local community. It’s not only about growing a business, but growing a community. When you’re community is doing well your business will tend to do well.
So it’s important to be part of community events and organizations.
Being part of those things is a big tax on introverts. Going to networking events, even at fun places like local taverns, can be taxing on someone like me. I like going and I look forward to it, but it wears me out talking so much and getting to know people.
I usually need a day to recover after those things. Well, maybe it’s not that bad, but I’m pretty tired afterward.
With that said, it’s important to go to those networking events. If you’re struggling with them I have a little tip I’ve developed to make it easier.
Step 1 – Chat For A Few Minutes With A Few People
My tendency was to find someone to talk to and then talk to them for the entire duration of the event. I would chat about the usual small talk like what we do for a living and then move into hobbies and things like that.
That’s fine, but I found that it was limiting exposure to others.
My new goal for each event is to spend just enough time with each person to learn about what they do a little about who they are. Then I move on to the next group of people and introduce myself.
Step 2 – Get Email Addresses
After talking to someone I try to get their email address. Most people have business cards with this information on it.
If the person is interesting and if it seems like there is a way we can do business together then I’ll make a note on the card or make sure to remember the conversation when I’m home that night or the next day.
Step 3 – Follow Up
The next day I’ll follow up with a couple of the people I’ve met. It might be just to say that it was nice talking to them. Or it might be to share my website since we probably chatted about Ghost Blog Writers.
Or I might look at their website and share my thoughts with them on what they do. Then I’ll talk about how we might be able to work together.
For example, at an event in my community I met someone that managed social media accounts for businesses. They were looking to offer blogging services to their clients and thought that GBW could provide those services.
Final Thoughts
My tip is to be quick with meeting people and the move the conversation to email.
For me, email is great. It gives me time to consider what I’m going to write and I can respond on my own schedule. So I can spend a few minutes getting to know someone at a networking event and then move the conversation to email and start the relationship that way.
Then you can setup meetings if necessary and move relationships to the next level.
I don’t think it’s expected that you form an entire relationship at networking events, but for me that’s what it felt like. Or that’s the pressure I would put on myself.
Now that I realize that it’s possible to have quick conversations and then move things offline to email I’ve been doing better and getting much more value out of the local events.