This is the first in an on-going series of blog posts about networking. As a self-described networking “scaredy-cat”, I am determined to hone my networking skills. Through this series of posts, I’ll attempt to work out my own problems with networking, and in doing so, hopefully help you with yours.

I recently attended a networking function for a local marketing group. I’ve been a member of this group for about a year, have attended several of their functions, but outside of one or two people, have pretty much failed to make any solid contacts. In my defense…aw who am I kidding? I have no defense for such poor networking.

But that was all going to change with that particular meeting. I had decided that I would do whatever it took to meet at least 5 new people this time. So I got there early, scanned the room and quickly located a table where 3 people – two women and a man – were talking animatedly to each other. Bingo! Or so I thought.

Here’s How It Went

Approaching the table, I asked the woman closest to me if I could sit at the table as well. She indicated that would be ok, and as I sat the three looked at me so I took the opportunity to introduce myself.

“Hi, my name is Joyce.”

The woman on the end said, “Hello.” The other two said nothing, but resumed their conversation. THEN, as if that weren’t rude enough, the woman who’d spoken to me positioned herself in such a way that her back was to me!

My heart sank. How could I succeed at networking when these people didn’t even want to talk to me. Furthermore, why was I here? This is specifically a NETWORKING group…so if no one was interested in networking, why was I wasting my time. And besides all of that, were these REALLY the kind of people I WANTED to get to know?

Get Over It Quick

That’s what you have to do when you’re snubbed – get over it – immediately. Actually this works for most areas of life, not just business networking. So right then and there I decided to get over it. I also decided to go sit somewhere else.

I ended up at a table with a marketing consultant, and we had a great conversation about white papers, and then several other topics! Plus, within the next 5 minutes the whole table filled up with friendly, talkative, open marketing professionals all eager to get to know each other – and me!

Bottom-line: I walked away with 7 new contacts, 2 more than my goal. I also walked away with a positive outlook toward the group and my ability to network successfully.

Don’t Get Discouraged…Just Move

It would have been easy for me to sit at the original table with the group that was only interested in talking to each other. I would have had a good lunch, heard a good presentation, and gone home with no new contacts.

I changed my seat…and I changed my luck.

One of the keys to beating the scaredy-cat networker in you is to not get discouraged. Just realize that not everyone attends networking functions for the same reasons. You may or may not want to know these people anyway. Find people who are there for the same reasons you are – and make some quality contacts!

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