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The most often misguided perception of networking is you need to be outgoing and a real talker, to be good at networking and meeting potential referral partners. However this isn't the case, because normally the person who is shy (yet very good at what they do) are often the ones who benefit the most from referral marketing and are normally not in sales or outgoing work. You'd be very surprised at how many people are actually introverted and yet developed a system to depend on direct sales between them and others. Yet the way the sale is initiated isn't by the introvert going out and doing sales calls, but rather on meaningful relationships, key strategic partners and good communication. If you're shy, I urge you to please don't take yourself out of the networking picture, because you're not good at making conversation. Normally it's this kind of person who excels at the networking part which is more important in relationship building anyway. Business networking face-to-face is a two part process, and it involves meeting, introducing, talking and listening about you and the other party. What happens if you're shy is you tend to be quite and therefore if you meet a more outgoing counterpart, it will be tremendously easy for you to listen to them as they love expanding about themselves. All along you can be taking notes and ask more questions to draw them out. You see, in a low-pressure and even stealth sales environment the introvert excels, because they can quietly sneak up and gain the inside information that the extroverted personality so readily gives out to everyone. This then arms the shy person with all the ammunition they need to help "solve a problem" for them, while they haven't really drawn the quiet person out. If you're very intimidated about meeting people, all you need to do is quietly go up to someone where a group of people are standing around, usually an extrovert who is the centre of attention. It's on the outskirts of these groups of conversation that you're likely to meet other shy people and in turn you'll feel more comfortable in discussing the ideas that the louder personalities are talking about, and it's more natural also. Don't think that you only need to network at local business chambers, you can gain referrals and potential new leads by doing voluntary work, possibly attending a toastmasters meeting or rotary club (it would need to be a business themed club though). Business networking is something you can learn to get progressively better at over time, and less shy from. If you still don't take well to mixing business meetings, try and take advantage of a smaller, more intimate networking group, where you might only have a few others have a chat and exchange of ideas over a coffee initially. By taking the situation out of an office environment or formal surroundings it can be less intimidating also, especially when you have a good strong group leader who is sensitive to the needs of each individual in the group. So as you do more and more mixing, even on a smaller level, you'll learn to adapt your own special style of meeting people, even if it's drawing them to you, rather than you going up to them. Please remember that even though you might feel extremely shy, if you smile at someone and come across as friendly, you don't even have to talk, the louder networkers will be attracted to you and you'll find yourself in a conversation before you know it.
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Phil Evans is a master at the art of networking and referral marketing in buisness. He challenges business owners to exponentially grow their profits on a continual self-improvement program. He's also the co-founder of SynergyBizNet, find out more at: www.SynergyBizNet.com
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