Use a bridge. There will always be 1-2 high energy connectors in every networking meet. This will be obvious when you enter a room. Be shameless and approach them, and ask for assistance. Always works.

Three ways to get started: 1. Leverage the Power of Active Listening Shift focus from feeling self-conscious to being genuinely curious about others. Ask insightful questions that allow the other person to share their experiences, creating a natural connection. 2. Frame Your Expertise as a Contribution : View your skills and experiences as valuable contributions rather than comparing yourselves to others. 3. Use Body Language to Reinforce Confidence Practice positive body language, like maintaining eye contact, offering a firm handshake, and standing tall. Non-verbal cues can significantly influence how you are perceived.

As an introvert, I often face challenges at networking events. To improve, I’ve implemented a few strategies. First, I make sure to stay up-to-date with industry trends beforehand, so I feel prepared and confident. During the event, I join active groups and focus on being an attentive listener. I look for topics of interest in discussions and share my insights when appropriate. If there’s a difference of opinion, I ask curious questions to understand the other person's perspective. Being open and approachable is key, as you’ll often find others who share similar viewpoints. This helps in building meaningful connections.

Reach into your toolbox for the tool that brings calm and confidence to you. In your preparation for this event you created a list of people you wanted to talk with and thought would be there. You also prepared your SNAAP (Super Networking at accelerated Pace - search for Lisa Nichols) so you are ready with your message. Discover where in the environment of the event you feel safe and see if you can engage with anyone on your list or anyone else who maybe good to practice your SNAAP on. Be warm, engaging, authentic and smile. Listen. Speaking to a few people for longer rather than many for too short for them to remember you by will be a better approach. These contacts can be worth following up with afterwards on warmer ground.

Sit at a table with people who are already talking even if you don’t know them. We’re not in high school anymore and this is expected. They will automatically introduce themselves and include you.

First, believe you are good enough and attending because of your deeds. Many people get "Imposter Syndrome" at these events. Have clarity on what you want to get out of the event. Have a pitch ready. Start off by scanning the crowd for people searching to get their feet wet. Meet them first and your nervousness will settle down. Figure out whom you want to meet and proceed with your plan.

Feeling insecure at a networking event? First off, remember this: most people feel the same way, but some are just better at hiding it! Start by asking open-ended questions, it shifts the focus from you to them, and people love talking about themselves. Plus, it buys you time to get comfortable. Prepare a few conversation starters or topics beforehand to avoid those awkward silences. And don’t forget to smile! Confidence is often more about how you present yourself than how you feel. Worst case? Compliment someone, it works every time!

In my experience, that feeling of insecurity at a networking event is more common than we realize. Fear triggers your fight-or-flight response, but there’s a simple antidote: tap into your body's rest and digest system. I’ve coached leaders to breathe deeply and engage with compassion—for themselves and others—knowing everyone in the room might feel the same way. It works because it shifts your brain from fear to connection. When you focus on making others comfortable, your own confidence grows naturally. Studies show compassionate interactions increase trust and likability (Seppälä, 2013).

An all too common occurrence, this one. Firstly, there is real merit in deciding to reframe the situation. The physiological symptoms are near identical to excitement, whereas we have become trained to see them as fear. Secondly, focus on being be interested rather than interesting. Thirdly, for conversarion fodder you can use the acronym: FORK, which stands for Family, Occupation, Recreation and Knowledge (what do you know a lot about). In your answers, give people 3-4 'strands' they can latch onto to further the conversation, rather than a single, data focused answer. And remember lots of other people are stood there hoping someone else makes the first move....

I've found it helpful to approach with curiosity and a chance to discover something interesting about the person. This taps into a psychological principle called the Ben Franklin Effect—people tend to like you more when they feel they’ve done something for you or shared something meaningful. Ask questions- “What’s something exciting you’ve been working on?” Takes the pressure off you and focuses on getting to know them. People like talking about themselves so we can tap into the brain's reward centers, helping build instant connection. Also, it just takes one. Instead of aiming for a ton of shallow conversations, we can focus on one or two meaningful ones. This can help feel more grounded rather than lost in the crowd.