Introverts make better networkers!
by Angela Loëb
Thom Singer, author of 8 books, including his very popular Some Assembly Required, was the featured speaker at a business luncheon I attended yesterday. The subject matter of his presentation was about networking. As someone who’s spoken and written extensively about networking to job seeker audiences during the economic downturn, you bet I was keen to hear what he had to say.
In addition to being a very dynamic and entertaining speaker, Thom’s points were all right on. That would explain why he’s had well over 65 speaking gigs this year!
Even though I found myself nodding in agreement the whole time, there was one thing he said that made me want to pump my fist and shout “amen.” It was when he said that introverts are actually better at networking than extroverts.
Yes, Thom Singer the networking expert has observed that introverts make better networkers! But why would he think that, especially since it seems so counterintuitive?
Because good networkers don’t, as Thom put it, “verbally vomit” on you when they meet you. Similarly, introverts don’t usually indulge in a lot of verbosity – at least not at first. He describes himself as an extrovert, saying that he usually has to consciously reign himself in.
Allowing the other person to talk makes the person think you like them, thus improving your chances of developing a relationship. Thom believes that an introvert’s natural tendency to let the other person speak first plays to the other person’s desire to be listened to. Introverts ask questions about the other person because they prefer to reserve what they say about themselves until they feel more comfortable and have better insight into the person they’re meeting.
This describes me and the way I have always networked and met new people. I prefer to let the other person go first. I’m the one who’s asking the leading question to get the other person to open up before I say too much about myself. And it’s this very technique that I teach to job seekers who are unfamiliar with the networking process and especially those who are introverted like me.
So, are you introverted? That’s excellent. You have it in you to shine when it comes to the networking scene. Go on and get out there!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Charla at Jobing.com, Jay Markunas. Jay Markunas said: Introverts make better networkers! http://www.greatoccupations.com/2010/12/15/introverts-make-better-networkers/ [...]