How do you feel about networking? The kind where you purposely attend events with the goal of meeting new people. Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in-between?
In life in general, women typically have more expansive networks than men. Yet, in the working world, networking events are typically dominated by men.
This may be because women often take more of the responsibility for childcare and need to get home. However, there is a sense that women are also less keen on attending these events. They feel less comfortable there.
Nevertheless, networking is key to our careers, it’s not just for those with business development responsibilities. Therefore, it is important to make room for it in our busy lives and have the skills to get some value from it.
The first step is to recognise why these events are important and beneficial – to appreciate the downside of not attending them.
So why would you attend networking from a career perspective?
1. To build your reputation in your field of work
2. To provide you with a network of people you know for the time when you are looking for a new career opportunity or need to recruit somebody
3. To help you be a ‘connector’, it is a really positive capability to be able to connect people to one another, if they have a need
4. To keep you up-to-date with current issues
So assuming you understand the why, let’s address the reluctance to attend. Often, even extrovert women have at least a small feeling of dread when walking into a room full of strangers.
Below are some tips to boost your confidence and encourage you to attend those events you may have been avoiding!
1. Remember, everyone will feel some degree of nervousness, you are not alone. It is easy to think that everyone else is both thoroughly enjoying an event and good at it – they’re not!
2. Make sure you are centred when you walk in the room. This means just taking a moment or two out to think about why you are there, before you enter the room. This is especially important if you’ve had a difficult day so far. A quick visit to the Ladies is usually a good solution!
3. Remember, you are making a first impression, even when you may not realise it! It’s not just when you introduce yourself to someone but the moment you enter the room, so just think about what your appearance and body language are communicating.
4. If it’s an option, get a drink first – for 2 reasons – this gives you something to hold in one hand and gives you the chance to survey the room a little.
5. Always make sure you enter an ‘open’ group. This means a group where there is a clear space for you (body language is the big clue here). In a large room, there will always be ‘open’ opportunities. Trying to enter a ‘closed’ group will create awkwardness and sap your confidence.
6. Always encourage the other person to speak first – it is polite and means you can ask more meaningful questions later on.
7. Have in mind that relationships take time. Men are more likely to walk away from someone quickly if they are disinterested and can’t spot an opportunity. It is worth taking some time to get to know people a little, without writing them off.
8. As tempting as it can be to stay with someone you know or have got to know and feel comfortable with, do make sure you move round the room. Remember, everyone is there to network and meet multiple people, so avoid feeling guilty about this.
9. If you want to move on from talking to one person but feel rude leaving them, suggest introducing them to someone you know or joining a larger group together.
10. Wear something you feel great in, it will help your confidence no end!
Joanna Gaudoin helps women and organisations achieve professional success by working with them on their image and impact. Prior to establishing Inside Out, Joanna Gaudoin spent nearly 10 years in marketing and consultancy. She now works with women one-to-one, as well as running client events and workshops across all areas of image and impact including networking and online personal image. To sign up for her free ‘Boost Your Personal Impact Guide’ and ‘Your Image for Success Update’, visit: http://insideoutimage.co.uk/personal-impact/
Great tips Joanna – thanks for sharing.