Savvy madames know that networking is a key tool in finding jobs, strengthening our professional ties and building our personal brands.
Madames are intelligent, interesting and intriguing so working a room should come naturally if you just keep in mind a few key points.
Get Over Yourself. What you call shyness is probably just being too wrapped up in yourself. “Self-absorption is a common theme of the thoughts of those with social anxiety. Self-absorption involves paying excessive attention to oneself. It’s like a video camera is constantly turned on to you and the picture it transmits is too bright and quite unflattering,” writes psychologist Laura L. Smith.
Be approachable. Spending the night talking exclusively to the person you came with is not networking. If you see a lively conversation going on at a professional event, just offer a smile and try to gracefully join in. If you’re not bold enough to walk up to a group of strangers, just hone in on someone who’s alone and introduce yourself. They’ll probably be grateful that you kept them from looking like a wallflower. Remember that networking can happen anywhere from a church function to an airline flight. Don’t miss opportunities by being too closed off.
Be informed. Once you start talking to people, you have to have something to say for yourself and it can’t just all be about you. Keep up with and have an opinion on industry news and things happening in the world outside your field. If the other person brings up a topic that you know nothing about, it doesn’t hurt to just ask: “What do you think about that?” People love to share their opinions and you may learn something.
Have something to offer. Let’s say you go to an event because you want to land a new job. Other attendees are there for their own agenda, too and you may have a way to help them reach their goals. That won’t always be the case, but if it turns out that you can share useful information with your new connection or facilitate an introduction, go for it. That mentality only makes you stronger.
Be Genuine. Being professional doesn’t mean putting on an act. Don’t feel the need to agree with opinions or ideas you are against or to waste time talking to someone who rubs you the wrong way. Networking events aren’t about collecting cards, it’s about sparking and building professional alliances.
