For a shy person, ending a conversation can be as hard as starting one. I realized this first-hand when I attended an event of a professional organization (AIGA) where I’d been a board member and president for 10 years. I had left the industry for a few years and come back, so I went to a few meetings to rekindle relationships.

Well I couldn’t believe what happened, I got into conversations that I couldn’t get out of. I must confess that I panicked a bit and actually had a feeling of my feet being cemented down. I looked to others in the room for help but no one came to my rescue, I had lost my touch. It was a weird sensation for a guy who used to really work a room because that was my role as President. Was it because I out of practice? Sure! But I think it was more than that. » Read the rest of this entry «

Anybody who is great at anything will tell you that it took a lot of practice to get to that point. In networking it is pretty much the same—especially if you are shy. You have to practice and work on your skills to chip away at any fear that you may have. Just remember that your shyness will never disappear 100%, but practice will bring that percentage way down. Now here are three more tips that will help you build confidence: » Read the rest of this entry «

I hope you had a chance to practice my three simple networking tips from last time. That wasn’t so hard was it? Here are three more that are certain to make your next experience more rewarding. » Read the rest of this entry «

First, I’d like to say that I myself hate networking. The prospect of walking into a room and meeting a bunch of strangers to talk about yourself can be a very frightening and paralyzing experience for the shy person. One way to battle any fear is to acknowledge it, so let me say it again, I HATE NETWORKING! That felt good. Okay the next step is to decide whether you want to do something about it or just avoid the situation all together and be stuck in a stagnant job or zero growth for your business. For me, I did something about it. As a young graphic designer I knew I had to network to advance my career in graphic design—in this industry most firms are small so if you want to meet other creative types, attending the local design or ad club events was the way to do it. » Read the rest of this entry «