Is Networking Draining You?

September 20, 2018

I have a confession—I hate networking–especially at large events!

Whether it’s one-on-one, attending business events or social gatherings, networking is a necessary part of life for both entrepreneur’s and professionals. I often tell the story about the time I was on a plane traveling back to the United States from a week-long business trip to Belgium. My first instinct when I got on the plane was to ignore everyone around me, put on my eye mask, and get some well-deserved rest.

However, good sense prevailed, and I struck up a conversation with a woman sitting directly across the aisle. It turns out, she was a vice president of communications at the company where I worked and, over time, became one of my strongest advocates. It was because of her influence that I was invited to participate on the corporate public affairs council which included senior communications professionals across the company that met monthly. What would have happened if I hadn’t opened my mouth?

The truth is, networking can be extremely draining for both introverts and extroverts. There are times when I have left a networking event, and I am both physically and mentally exhausted. Thank goodness over time, I’ve learned how to manage it better and reduce my level of exhaustion. And, according to a Harvard Business Review article by Jordana Valencia, there are some practical networking tips that can help all of us.

Determine Your Personal Limit—tracking the amount of networking hours and level of energy can help you determine your personal limits. For example, a few years ago, I attended a networking breakfast for women-owned businesses. The breakfast was fine, and I could handle the table conversation. However, what followed was a trade fair where more than 500 business owners were jockeying for position with a number of supplier diversity representatives from various companies. I was truly overwhelmed and, after a few challenging encounters, decided to exit stage left. Now, when I attend these kinds of events, I am more strategic about who I want to target based on research.

Choose Quality Over Quantity—be choosey about what events you attend. This way you won’t spread yourself too thin, especially if your time is limited. Evaluate each event on the merit of whether it can provide long-term value and align with your immediate goals.

Bring A Networking Partner—consider bringing a coworker or friend who is more extroverted than you to help you achieve your networking goals. They can help with social support, as well as reduce exhaustion and burnout. I took a good friend with me to a women’s empowerment event, and we made it a game to make at least five contacts each.
Replenish Your Energy—Research shows that microbreaks can help replenish a person’s energy resources. Try excusing yourself for a few minutes so that you can step away from the networking event. Find a quiet space where you can take a mental break. This will give you the energy boost you need to get through the networking event.

Instead of shying away from networking events, try the above techniques to reenergize yourself.