Networking for the Socially Awkward

Networking can be very intimidating for many business owners. Some people are naturally outgoing, personable, and do great with small talk. Others (myself included) dread the idea of having to talk to a person that they have no common experiences with, and have no idea how to make conversation with them.

Luckily, in this new era of tech advancements and varied forms of communication, there are some great ways for those who are socially awkward to network just as well as those who are socially confident.

Social Media Master

A lot of times, people who are socially awkward feel much more comfortable communicating with someone via the Internet rather than in person. Whether it be through email, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, or LinkedIn, chatting and making connections with someone through social media is a much more comfortable setting.

You can gather your thoughts on what you want to say, rather than being put on the spot; send helpful pictures, files, and videos that you may want to share; and meet far more people than you could ever meet in real life.

You can even join an online group that shares the same interests as you. Facebook makes joining group very easy and efficient, and any topic that you’re interested in creating a business around is available in an online group. You’ll find ideas in these groups that you might never think of on your own.

In-Person Meetings

But that’s not to say in-person meetings aren’t important. Eventually, you’re still going to have to meet a client or go to a networking party. So what do you do in those situations, where your comfort level is at an all time low?

First, you need to remember that networking is vital to growing your business. You never know when the person you met once at a networking party is going to contact you offering the deal of a lifetime.

So, when you’re faced with a situation where you have to network in person, and you feel uncomfortable about it, try to remember these two things: Be yourself, and relax.

Just Be Yourself

Both of these things are kind of easier said than done, but they’re key to making good connections. I’ll be honest with you; I HATE small talk. Networking, and meeting new people in general, is 90% small talk, 10% deeper connections. So it’s not my favorite thing in the world. A lot of the pressure and awkwardness that I feel comes from the fact that most of the time I’m trying to show the other person I’m a professional, dedicated person. That’s all well and good, but the problem is, when I do that, I end up coming off as stiff and serious. And that’s not me.

It’s sometimes hard, but if you’re a jokey person like me, then try to throw in a few light jokes into a conversation. Sometimes it’ll be well received, sometimes it won’t. But that’s a good risk to take when you’re trying to lighten up a conversation and make deeper connections.

Relax, man…

It’s also important to relax. Why? Because no one likes a stickler. In all seriousness, though, when you’re less worried about whether you’re making a good impression on the other person, you’ll have a much better time. So what if you can’t make a good connection with everyone you meet? You only need one good connection to make the whole thing worthwhile.

Chances are, there are a lot of people out there who feel exactly the same as you do about social events. But there’s always a way to make those fears turn into strengths, and network in a way that makes you feel the most comfortable.