I hate networking. 

My job is people. I speak with people all day long. I love getting to know the people, their passions, goals and quirks.

I said in a previous post on LinkedIn that I was excited to connect with people at a conference next week, but that’s only a half truth. I’m excited to speak with people, I’m dreading the first interaction. 

I’ll definitely be sweating about ice breakers on the train in. I’m convinced people will find me completely boring or irrelevant and I’ll wander around by myself before deciding to call it a day… I’ve been to small HR conferences before where everyone seemed to know each other. Every conversation I tried to start was abruptly interrupted by air kissing a bestie and talking about fabulous things I didn’t know about. It felt like being transported back to school days and being picked last for sports teams, which is not an experience I actively want to put myself back into!

People tend to be surprised that I feel this way. I have no issue getting up and speaking in front of a room full of people, but I dread introducing myself to one stranger. I get energised from speaking with people initially, but I definitely need to be in a dark quiet place afterwards. 

I really don’t know how this conference will go, but I want to go and speak with people. I want to hear about their experiences, their pain points when trying to find the best people for their business and how I can tailor my services to solve their problems. I just need to put on my big girl pants and do it. My only strategy is to get out of my comfort zone and go and shake a few hands - although I’ve not been to a conference since before Covid, do people still do that? I’ve made myself a goal of speaking with at least 5 business leaders about how they staff their businesses, and if I do that, the conference will be a success for me.

Realistically, I know networking is essential. I receive sales emails all day and I unsubscribe immediately. Emails are not going to cut it. We all receive floods of InMails that go unread. Businesses don’t put phone numbers on their websites. If I want to speak with the people who matter, I need to go to them. 

If you’re going to VivaTech in Paris 11th to 14th June and need someone to stand awkwardly beside, come hit me up. I’ll be the sweaty one in the corner giving herself a pep talk!