If you hate networking, skip working the room. Pick two or three people, ask about their work, and follow up within 48 hours with something useful. Networking is building a few real relationships over time, which suits quieter people.
Key takeaways
Aim for two good conversations per event, then you can leave.
Ask "What are you working on right now?" instead of "What do you do?" because it invites a story.
Bring one thing to give, such as an article, an intro, or a tip, to take the pressure off asking.
Follow up within 48 hours with a short message, one detail from the talk, and one next step.
Spend ten minutes a week sending a quick note to three people to keep relationships growing.
If you hate networking, stop trying to work the room. Pick two or three people to meet, ask about their work, and follow up within 48 hours with something useful. Networking is just building a few real relationships over time, and that fits quieter people well.
You love your work, but your industry runs on relationships and events feel fake. The problem isn’t you. It’s the badge-swapping version of networking.
Go small, not wide
Set a goal of two good conversations per event. Then you can leave.
Ask about their work
“What are you working on right now?” beats “What do you do?” It invites a story.
Hating networking costs you deals and opportunities. The same relationship skills work in business development. Practice it with coaching in the X-Factor Accelerator: 90 days. The same skills show up at work. THEOS, the Elite Operators System is eight weeks of live installation: diagnostic 1:1, live sessions every Tuesday, and a help desk between sessions.
Bring one thing to give
An article, an intro, a tip. Giving takes the pressure off asking.
Follow up in 48 hours
Short message, one detail from the talk, one next step. Most people never follow up, so you’ll stand out. If someone tells you “let’s stay in touch,” here is what it really means and how to answer it.
Keep in touch on a schedule
Ten minutes a week. A quick note to three people. Relationships grow from small, steady contact.
