7 Ways To Be A More Confident Networker
Be proud of yourself and what you do. What do you think about people who don’t want to talk about their business, who keep saying “we’re not really that good”?
Be yourself. If you’re not a “traditional” business type then you might feel you don’t fit in. But don’t try and be someone you’re not or you’ll come across as uncomfortable and you’ll find it difficult to be someone different.
Don’t worry if it’s all new to you. Seek out people who are good networkers and notice what they do. Ask them for help. Think about the things that you find most difficult and then find people who can help you improve those skills. Everyone was new to it once!
Know what you’re going to say. If you get nervous giving presentations then see a hypnotherapist who can help to reduce your nerves and/or a presentation expert who can give you some practical advice about how to construct a speech and how to deliver it.
Arrive in plenty of time. If you’re not in a rush you’ve got time to think about what you’re going to do and you know you’ve got everything you need. Being there at the beginning of an event means you don’t have to go straight into a crowded room.
Find out what the format is beforehand. Know what to expect, who you’re likely to meet and what you should take with you. You’ll also be able to leave plenty of time before any meetings afterwards so that you’re not panicking about being late.
Ask other people what they do. That way you’re not stuck for words and it gives you a chance to sum up the person you’re talking to so that you can feel more comfortable when they ask you a question.
Sharon Stiles uses hypnotherapy, CBT, NLP and EFT to help people reduce stress and anxiety in their personal and work lives. She offers online products and individual sessions in Bristol, UK and by webcam. Find out more about confident networking at http://www.sharonstiles.co.uk/confidentnetworker.asp
Tags: confident networker, scared of networking, business networking