Power Networking for Introverts

Tell us who you are

Getting on Twitter is the first step. Now you have to tell us who you are.

I know it can be painful for us shy types to do what basically amounts to standing in front of the room and announcing to everyone who we are and what makes us special. Unfortunately, if you are going to take the time to get yourself a Twitter ID and follow a few people, you need to take this extra step. A profile with no information actually reflects poorly on you. I generally don't follow people if they don't want to tell me who they are (also don't follow people with protected tweets - but that's a topic for another post)--and I don't think I'm alone on this.

At the top of your Twitter page, under your Twitter name, you'll see a pull-down menu. Select Settings, then the Profile tab. Include your real name, and briefly tell us where you work and any accomplishments.

Yes, it's OK to do that.

 

Networking online

When I first started this blog in early 2007, I deliberately made Power Networking for Introverts about face-to-face networking for a couple of reasons. First, I just wasn't that experienced at using social media for networking. I was really just getting started with social networking sites and didn't feel I had the expertise to write about it yet. Second, I knew that a lot of introverts would much rather hide behind their online personas than go out and speak to people live and in person, and I wanted to focus on that aspect.

Fast forward to 2011, and social networking is an intricate part of our professional and personal lives. It's hard to talk about networking and not talk about Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. In fact, it's hard to say you're networking if you're not putting an some time each week cultivating your online connections.

So, I will be including in this blog posts about networking online. To start off the discussion, though, I'm curious about one aspect of the topic. When you network online, do you use multiple outlets and tools, or do you focus your networking activities in one particular venue? Do you have accounts with multiple social networking sites, or just one? I'd love to hear your comments.

 

Diving into the networking pool

Yesterday I attended a major networking event here in Denver. It's an annual event that attracts a huge crowd -- the first I've attended since I've recently gotten back into networking. This wasn't anything like "getting your feet wet," though. I dove right in.

I really didn't want to go. I kept looking for excuses not to attend -- although I knew it would wind up being worthwhile. So, in record-breaking heat I put on my business attire and headed downtown.

On the way, I set my goals for the evening and gave myself permission to leave as soon as I reached those goals. I decided it would be a productive evening if I:

1. Make one good new connection (someone who needs and is interested in my company's services)
2. Talk with one current/past client
3. Help someone out (make a referral, send useful information, etc.)

Once downtown, I couldn't turn back. I checked in and immediately panicked, because the venue was packed. Everywhere I looked, there were people with name tags, standing around and talking with strangers. Heeding my own advice, I decided to "act as if." I walked in and acted as if I liked this stuff.

It must have worked. I quickly reached all of my goals, but found that I was having fun catching up with old conntections and making new ones. I met a long-term client, and he remembered that he needed to send me some information about a new project. A new acquaintance, when she heard what my company does, said "We need you!" (music to any business owner's ears). And best of all, when someone said she was looking for a job, I knew of an opening for which she seemed well-suited.

Lessons learned? Perhaps a 500+ person event is not the best way to get back into the networking pool. Setting goals and giving myself permission to leave took off a lot of the pressure, and even this hard-core introvert can fake it at times. And it felt really good to help someone out. Maybe it was worth getting out of my comfort zone for a little while.

How to Network (Even If You Hate Networking)

Back in April, economic gardening expert Christine Hamilton-Pennell sent me an article on networking that she thought I'd like. I was doing a lot of traveling at that time, so I just filed it away to read later. I recently got around to it, and - with the startup of this blog - it couldn't have come at a better time.

You can always count on Christine. When she sends you something that she finds useful or interesting, it always is. How to Network (Even If You Hate Networking), by David R. Butcher is a very worthwhile read for introverts who network.

In my workshops on this topic, I've always emphasized that the very qualities that define us as introverts make us well-suited for networking. Based on information from Devora Zack's 2010 book Networking for People Who Hate Networking, the article takes this idea even further. It's a step-by-step guide to harnessing the power of these strengths, and -- for each -- it outlines specific techniques and tips.

There's really no way of getting around the fact that we must network -- whether we like it or not. This article definitely makes it a lot less painful.

 

Hello, again

Never say never. Back in April 2008 I wrote what I thought would be my last post for this blog. Although I said "Goodbye, for now," I really thought that I'd said all I could say, and what little spare time I had needed to be used on other things. But, as my grandma used to say, "You never know." (or something along those lines - it was in Yiddish)

Why am I back? In my last post, I mentioned my (overcommitted) schedule and everything I was juggling at the time. It was actually much worse than that, because in the middle of everything - running my business, being AIIP president, editing the Find area of FUMSI magazine - I wrote a book, Research on Main Street: Using the Web to Find Local Business and Market Information. Hectic? Amazingly so. Gratifying and rewarding? Amazingly so.

I'm no longer on the board of directors of AIIP, and the book is done. My life is still hectic, but a lot less so. I'm doing more blogging at MarcyPhelps.com, marketing my book, and have taken on some volunteer jobs that are a lot less time-consuming than being president of an international association. And I've gotten back to networking.

Yes, I have to admit that during the time I was writing the book, I did basically zero networking. There was no time. I was fortunate to have a nice core of regular clients that brought repeat business to Phelps Research, but the lack of networking definitely affected the flow of new business. It was also lonely. I missed getting out of the confines of my office to meet new and interesting people.

Once the book was done and I started making progress on my after-the-book-to-do list, I knew I needed to get back to networking. I knew how important it was and how its done. I've blogged about it, for Pete's sake! Did I get right to it? Not at all. I procrastinated for months, each week finding better reasons why it could be put off. When I would finally drag myself to a networking event, I was at a loss for words and fearful of approaching people I didn't know. The introvert had retreated.

So - at least for this introvert - it seems that networking is definitely not like riding a bike. If you haven't done it in a while, you forget. You forget that networking really isn't all that scary, and you forget what real networking is all about.

While it's not exactly like when I first started networking (heaven help us), I do feel like I'm starting over. I've taken some baby steps, like volunteering and attending events where I know some people. Reading and writing about networking will - I think - help the process and help get me get back into the swing of things. I also like sharing what I learn. And, looking at the blog stats over the past few years, I've come to realize that people really want to know about this topic.

So, I'm once again blogging about Power Networking for Introverts. Not a lot, and I'm not promising that there won't be gaps. But, as I come across a great article or other resource or have some new insights during my re-entry into the world of networking, I'll pass it on. I'm also looking for some guest bloggers to help out.

Let me know what topics you'd like to read about on this blog. What's on your mind? What do you wish you knew more about? I'll try to cover what  you'd like to know about Power Networking for Introverts.