My "Truly Meet One Person" Approach to Networking

The life of an Angelino working in the entertainment industry inevitably involves a fair share of networking. This is true whether you're in a pulled-back creative mode or hitting multiple events a week, be they screenings, happy hours, panels, etc. If you work in this industry, networking happens.

I'm one of those people who's kinda "good at it." I enjoy meeting new people and learning about them, I'm not particularly shy, and I make an effort to pull quiet people into a conversation if I can. If the conversation balls drops, I will pick it up.

This skill is something a lot of people think comes naturally and many think they are horrible at it. They feel a pressure to "succeed" and "work the room."

Funny thing is, it's a skill I was taught in my sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma, while training for recruitment events. (Back in my day, we still called it "Rush.") We would review various questions one could ask - Yes, good networking skills do start with "Where are you from?" and "What's your major?" And we went over various other techniques to put a new person at ease and hopefully draw them out. Listening, of course, always a good idea. I may have taken to the concept like a fish to water, but the truth is, it was a learned skill for me.

Going into undergrad, I tested 50/50 on personality tests measuring introversion to extroversion. There's no doubt the scale tipped by the time I graduated.

Now, I also think a lot about how so many people hate "networking." Often because they think they're bad at it, but also because they think it's insincere. Talking to a friend today, I shared with her my own personal philosophy when I find myself in any networking situation.

And that is: Truly meet one person. That is my only goal.

Who the person is isn't important. I exercise truly un-goal-oriented networking. Sometimes I meet a writer, or an actor, or a director. Sometimes I meet a teacher, or a pilot, or a parent. I let fate drive my networking time, and I rarely (almost never) cross a room to seek out a particular person because I happen to know who they are. I prefer an authentic meet, whether it's through friends, or because you're in the same networking boat and you both turn to each other and start talking.

Oh, and a reconnection with someone you haven't seen in a while totally counts, too.

Now, I may or may not end up talking to one person throughout a whole evening. Sometimes I do like to flit around, partially because I occasionally get claustrophobic if I stay in one spot in a room or club. Sometimes I do meet a lot of people.

But I think there's a misconception that everyone who's good at networking "works the room" or chats up "the right people." And hey, maybe that's true for everyone but me; I don't know. Seriously, if I go somewhere and I truly meet just one person, any person, I consider the evening a success. The connection is more authentic, I'm not overwhelmed, and I've been here almost eight years already, so even with this method, that's A LOT of people - people I have an easier time remembering, and who I hope remember me as someone who was genuinely interested in who they are and what they're doing.

So if you are someone who dreads or hates networking and you find yourself in a room full of peeps, my suggestion is, step back and think: I only have to Truly Meet One Person. Perhaps that will make the evening seem much less intimidating.

You can even start a conversation by saying, I read this crazy blogger and she said I only have to truly meet one person...

Comments

[The Occasional Princess]

Liz, thanks for the networking advice. I'm a bit of an introvert, but your "one person" approach seems genuine and a lot less overwhelming. I'll definitely try it out!