Someone once said, “You make a very good impression of yourself.” Now, here are 3 simple steps to making the best and lasting first impression possible, while connecting naturally, whether you’re an introverted, shy, or reserved networker.
Step 1: let your mouth speak: First, come to terms with the idea that you will have to actively and regularly inform people of your accomplishments. You cannot depend on others to read your mind or ask you about your achievements. These achievements could be: testimonials received or results experienced by your clients, your most recent promotions and / or other relevant news.
For example, lately, I sometimes share with networking colleagues the fact that I attract and work with many introverted, shy and reserved entrepreneurial clients. Surprisingly, the response I get from others is often, “I’m an introvert!” The Universe is certainly reliable – you can count on it to do your job of bringing like-minded people together.
What you may perceive as bragging, others around you will often see as, “I’m so glad you told me this; I would never have known you work with people like me!” Why? Because the reality is that few people pay full attention to what is being expressed and, instead, care more about themselves.
Step 2: let your fingers do the talking: After collecting the business cards from the people you enjoyed talking to, prepare and email a follow-up note or send them a greeting card. (Introverts are often more convincing and persuasive writers than oral communicators.) This way, you can be sure of communicating exactly what you want to say.
Step 3: follow the example: Also, while self-promotion is key to attracting more success into your life, it can never replace doing good work that sells itself. According to Marshall Goldsmit, author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, “Being smart turns people on. Advertising how smart you are turns them off.” When your work or alignment is aligned with your natural work style, self-promotion becomes much easier.
According to Donna Dunning, author of What’s Your Type of Career, introverts fall into these four main categories of work styles:
(1) Analyzers: They prefer to work alone: assimilate and analyze information, solve problems and work independently. Examples: computer technicians, economists, engineers, researchers, and programmers.
(2) Assimilators: They prefer to have a stable structure, adhering to procedures, in addition to processing and categorizing detailed information. Examples: administrators, healthcare workers, librarians, supervisors, and veterinarians.
(3) Enhancers: They are workers behind the scenes, who generally avoid promoting themselves and love to form personal relationships and make things work for groups. Examples: administrative assistants, nutritionists, personal trainers, social workers, and therapists.
(4) Visionaries: They are big picture planners, who enjoy integrating ideas and developing mental models to interpret experiences. Examples: architects, lawyers, consultants, designers, doctors, researchers, and strategic planners.
Which one best describes you? Are you in the right context and career for your natural work style? Also, while recognizing and understanding your introvert tendencies is important, you can still be happy and successful in traditionally extroverted careers, such as sales and teaching.
In short, speak, write, act.
