If your anxiety soars sky-high at the thought of introducing yourself and mingling with lots of people, you may be an introvert. I completely relate! Despite my past life as a high school pom-pom girl and summer camp counselor, I dread being the center of attention. I would rather have my teeth drilled, lol. However, I do understand the importance of a solid introductory pitch, especially at professional settings. The smoother my delivery, the calmer I am, the brighter I smile and the better first impression I make. This article on Grow is a quick, easy read. It highlights job interview pitches but the suggestions are relevant to all networking situations. Riskology has a cute story that makes networking actually sound fun, lighthearted and enjoyable. Because it can be! Lastly, ImprovAndy shares the advantages to being an introvert, and there are many. Be proud to be an introvert!
Don't be nervous to try out your new elevator pitch. Practice it at a friendly Chamber event such as Ribbon Cuttings and Takeout Stakeout. Work your way up to a larger event such as Business After Hours, Speed Networking, The Health & Wellness Fair or an Affinity Group meeting. Schedule a coffee break with a Chamber member you admire and would like to know better. A casual one-on-one conversation is the best way to ease networking discomfort. But the perfect place to soften the anxiety and sample your new networking skills - Meditation Mondays! We look forward to seeing you soon.
