By Gina Dolin May 25, 2021 

If you are an introvert and want to thrive in your STEM career, master the following networking advice. To be promoted to leadership, learn to network. Making connections is another way learn about discovers in your field, new career opportunities inside or outside your organization and advance your career. 

Never stop learning is a favorite motto. Before attending these events on networking. I knew that my networking skills could be improved. When a networking event focuses on a subject I like, it is much easier for me to talk to strangers. Often events don’t have a topic and many events are on topics I know little about. Hence my reason for wanting to attend. This is why I sought out presentations on networking for introverts. 

Two of my favorite networking suggestions are: 

After a networking event, put time on my calendar to connect with the people I have just met. I used to go to networking events and rarely followed up. This is simple and great advice for making the networking event payoff. 

My other favorite idea is to wear a conversation starter. My two favorite wearable conversation starters are my French Kitty watch and a microphone pin. 

As a professional public speaker, my microphone pin is great to wear a business networking event. You might think, that as someone who is a professional speaker that I find networking easy. Not true.

When giving a presentation, I’ve been asked to use my expertise to present on leadership or overcoming the imposter syndrome. I find walking into a room with a large group of strangers intimidating. By wearing something unusual or distinctive is a great way to get a conversation started. 

The following tips and ideas are from two events I attended at Rowan Tree. Networking for Introverts and Tell Your Business Story in 60 Seconds. Both excellent events that provided good networking ideas for Introverts, Extroverts and the majority of us Ambiverts. 

1. Listening is a Superpower and Essential for: 

● Developing relationships 

● Selling your ideas and more 

● Learning 

● Advancing your career 

● Leadership 

2. Preplanning 

What is your elevator pitch/how will you introduce yourself? 

● Eric Byrd, Networking Guru says the purpose is to get a conversation started. 

● In 60 seconds or less tell them who you are, what you do, who you do it for and tell them something INTERESTING about yourself. 

What is the theme of the networking meeting? 

● Have you done your homework? 

● Can you ask insightful questions? 

● Ask questions about the other person. 

● Share ideas. 

What one thing do you want people to remember about you? 

For the true introvert, wear a conversation starter 

● An unusual lapel pin 

● Crazy shoes 

● Wild eyeglasses 

Psyching yourself up. 

● Find a phrase that encourages you. 

● Do you need music to calm the soul? 

● Or music that makes you want to sing and dance? 

● Tell yourself you can leave after 30 minutes. 

3. The Networking Event 

Put your planning to work – ask insightful questions and share ideas.

Networking is about building relationships – how can you help them? Networking on Zoom, send a direct message and include your email and ask “let me know if I can help?” 

For in person events, what is your exit strategy? 

● It can be as simple as shaking hands, saying nice meeting you. ● If this is someone you want to connect with exchange business cards. ● If there is a genuine connection, use your smartphone to make a follow-up meeting. 

4. Follow-up 

● Block time on your calendar for follow-up. 

● Share information or an article that interests them. 

● If you are pressed for time – a one sentence email, to be followed up later ● If you’re crazy busy, send an email template you personalize to let them know you want to connect and then a follow up later. 

● Connect on LinkedIn. 

● Follow them on social media. 

5. What to do now 

Remember all those business cards you got before COVID 19? Why not follow-up now? 

 

We can’t always be confident, sometimes we need to be courageous