Networking Nuggets

Hi I'm Keith and welcome to Networking Nuggets. Let's start with something most people won't admit out loud. Networking feels awkward. There I said it. Not just for you, not just for people who say they're bad at it but for most people.

You walk into the room or you log into that zoom call and there's that moment where you pause, you look around and your brain starts doing that thing where it goes what do I say? Who do I talk to? Do I actually belong here? And meanwhile everyone else looks like they've got it together. They're chatting, they're laughing, they seem confident like they know exactly what they're doing.

But here's the truth for you they don't or at least not in the way you think they do. Most people in that room are feeling some version of the same thing a bit unsure, bit self conscious, a bit like they're figuring it out as they go. The difference, the only difference is that some of those people have just had more practice of pushing through that feeling than you have. So if it's not just you then why does Networking feel so awkward? Well in my experience it comes down to this it comes down to the pressure we put on ourselves because of how we've been taught to approach it.

You see most networking advice tells you to have a great pitch, impress people, stand out, sell yourself and the moment you hear all that then every conversation becomes a performance. You're not just talking to someone you're thinking am I saying the right thing? Do I sound interesting enough? Should I mention what I do now or later? Now when you're in your head like that you're not really in the conversation, you're managing yourself and that managing yourself that's what creates the awkwardness.

Not a lack of confidence, not even a lack of ability, just too much pressure. So here's the shift that changes everything. Instead of going into networking thinking how do I come across? Try this next time you walk into that room or you log on to that screen look at that person you want to talk to and think yourself what can I learn about this person? Because the moment your focus moves off you everything relaxes.

You stop performing. You start listening. You start asking better questions and the conversation becomes just a conversation which is what it was supposed to be all along. So next time you're walking into a room or you're joining a Zoom call don't put that pressure on yourself to be impressive. Don't worry about saying the perfect thing Just go in with one simple intention.

Be curious. Ask questions. Find out about people. Understand them. Because do all that and you'll be surprised how quickly things start to feel normal.

Because networking isn't about being perfect, it's about being present and that's something you can do straight away. If you found this week's episode useful make sure you follow or subscribe and if you want more check out Networking Nuggets on LinkedIn it's my weekly newsletter where I share deeper insights every Wednesday. Until next time keep connecting. Networking Nuggets is a Think of Something Publishing production.