Business Networking for Introverts: How to Build Relationships the Authentic Way

By Karlo Krznarić

It’s well-established that these days that networking is a requirement to make it in the business world. But many of us cringe at the mere mention of the word “networking.” If you’re an introvert, that might be the case for you. Social interactions are already draining enough — they can feel totally undesirable when a business component is introduced.

Thankfully, Karlo Krznarić knows that networking doesn’t have to be a nightmare. It can be an enjoyable, valuable experience… even if you’re an introvert! In Business Networking for Introverts, Krznarić runs you through everything you need to know about networking, from getting into a relationship-building state of mind to following up after a networking event. Krznarić also offers practical tips on thorny networking situations like managing awkward exchanges, leaving a conversation, and running out of conversational material. Above all, Krznarić teaches that networking should be a pleasurable activity motivated by the desire to build meaningful relationships that are mutually beneficial both inside and outside of business contexts.

If you’re an introvert or someone who’s otherwise apprehensive about the prospect of networking, this course is for you. Networking is a nightmare no more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scribd Coach
• Release date: Jun 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094426471

Karlo Krznarić

Karlo Krznaric helps introverts get better at social skills. He is a communication coach, author of the book Joy of Speaking, conference host and online instructor. His colorful background is reflected in his works: From language studies and entrepreneurship, through theatre and tourist entertainment, all the way to babysitting. As a result, there are over 35 000 students enrolled in his video courses and he has worked with small businesses as well as NGOs including TEDxVienna on improving their internal communications and public speaking appearances. On the personal side, he still plays with toys, especially Legos.

Book preview

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1

Introduction

Hello and welcome! My name is Karlo Krznarić, and this is Business Networking for Introverts, a course from Scribd Coach. Thanks so much for joining me. Let’s get started.

In the business world, we often say: It’s not about what you know, but who you know. Regardless of what industry you’re in, networking and relationships are the cornerstones of the business world. Nowadays, there’s a huge surplus of people with every skill. It doesn’t matter if you’re self-employed or working for a major corporation, there are probably at least ten other people readily available with your same skill set. So when the higher-ups are looking for someone to promote or a client is looking for a new service provider, how can you ensure they will choose you? What is the deciding factor between you and your competitors? It’s simple: your personality.

People who are charismatic, outgoing, and sociable find clients easier, are promoted more often, and discover lucrative new opportunities faster. It makes sense. If you have an established relationship with a potential client or executive, why would they turn to someone on the internet whom they’ve never met? They don’t know what to expect from that person, and they don’t know how they would fit into the workplace culture.

If they’re looking for someone to promote, it will often be someone they know who gets along with their superiors, colleagues, and peers. After all, being an effective team leader or manager depends heavily on how well you get along with those around you.

The key to establishing these kinds of fruitful relationships is networking. There’s simply no way around networking if you want to be successful. For some people, this can be an uncomfortable reality. There are many people who cringe at the mere mention of the word networking, and not without good reason. If you’re checking out this course - Business Networking for Introverts - there’s a strong chance that you’re one of these people. Fortunately, you can learn to be good at networking -- even if you’re an introvert!

In this course, we are going to discuss the components of good networking and how you, even as an introvert, can grow your skills to improve your ability to network effectively, naturally, and with more confidence.

To help you learn and apply these tips, we’re going to structure the course around a real-world scenario. We’ll imagine that you are going to a networking event by yourself, completely alone. Your goal is to meet new people to expand your network, turning these initial interactions into long-term, mutually profitable relationships. We’ll break it down step-by-step, from beginning to end.

This course is split into three main sections. In the first section, we’re going to talk about how to improve your networking skills before you even step out of the door. How? It all starts with your attitude and mentality. These form the foundation for how comfortable and confident you will be at the networking event. After that, you’ll learn how to get through the initial awkward moments of a networking event. How do you approach somebody? How do you get others to approach you? What signals can you watch for to determine if the interaction is going well? With these methods, you’ll overcome that initial discomfort so that you can make a good first impression.

In the second section, we’ll cover how you can start and maintain good conversations. There are some easy techniques we’ll talk about to keep the conversation flowing. They will help you avoid awkward silences and almost always find topics to talk about with anyone. We’ll also discuss how you can move on from a conversation partner politely without hurting