Start by attending small events or online groups where the atmosphere feels less intimidating. Practice introducing yourself. Listen more than you speak, and ask open-ended questions to keep the conversation going. Always be calm. Over time, you'll build confidence and find networking easier. Focus on building genuine connections, not just collecting contacts.

Networking while shy? It’s like forcing yourself to dance when you hate the spotlight. Awkward. Uncomfortable. But here’s the truth: everyone feels weird at first. Start small. Talk to one person, not the whole room. Ask questions. People love to talk about themselves. Forget impressing anyone; just aim to connect. Also, rejection? It happens. Shake it off like a bad haircut 😬 The real secret? You don’t have to be ON all the time. Be yourself. Quirks and all. Authenticity is magnetic 💡 Soon enough, strangers turn into allies. Networking doesn’t have to be scary; it can be the start of something great.

If you’re shy, begin networking in smaller, more comfortable settings, such as one-on-one meetings or small groups. Prepare a few open-ended questions to start conversations and focus on active listening. For instance, I’ve found virtual events helpful, as engaging through chats first allowed me to build confidence before transitioning to in-person interactions.

If you're struggling with shyness, perhaps your 'Why' isn't compelling enough. While introverts and extroverts differ significantly, even introverts can manage outgoing tasks like networking when necessary. It's important to first determine your true purpose for networking. As the saying goes, "Scared money don't make no money."

Start small and with realistic, measurable goals. I find when I gamify the opportunity, I have more success. For example, your goals could be: attend 2 events a month, one virtual and other online (have 3 questions and one interesting fact about yourself up your sleeve-practice saying them out loud); leave each one with 3 contacts; reach out to each contact (ie call, text, email or Linkedin) within 24 hours. When you've completed all 3 steps, give yourself a reward, which could be as simple as acknowledging your success and commitment to growth. Put in the reps and you'll build the skills.

A huge in-person solve for this is to head over and join the queue for refreshments and talk to the person ahead of you or behind you in the queue. I've yet to find a queue at a networking event where no-one is talking. Use that to build confidence and go from there.