As we come out of lockdown, networking events are picking up. Are you ready? For many of us, it’s been a long time since we’ve been talking in person to peers and colleagues. It can be overwhelming, especially since most of us spent the past two years networking virtually, or not networking at all.
If getting back to being social makes you feel uneasy, take comfort in knowing that, like anything else, it just takes practice, and as this article points out, an understanding about neuroscience and how our brains function.
From a neuroscientific perspective, feeling uncomfortable can cause your brain to take you into protective modes which include fight, flight, freeze and appease. If you program your brain for curiosity and abundance, you will be programming yourself for “wonder”, which prompts the release of dopamine and serotonin into your system. These are feel-good neurochemicals that our bodies produce when we don’t feel anxious or threatened. In fact, these chemicals in our body allow us to connect with others on a deeper level. So, being curious and excited about what you might discover, and who you might meet, at a networking event changes your brain chemistry and outlook.
Our brains and our bodies are directly connected. If your brain says to your body, “Dread this,” then you will feel that negativity in your body. All humans have something called “mirror neurons.” Mirror neurons pick up on signals from others around you and mimic those behaviors. If you feel anxious, those around you will too, which limits the quality of your interactions.
For this reason, a best practice is to shift your mindset to a positive one, and if you need extra motivation, bring a colleague with you to help you ease into the event. If people sense discomfort or awkwardness, they’re more likely to become uncomfortable with you, end a conversation… or not even approach you in the first place.
Neuroscience of networking hacks:
1) Remember that networking is not about selling. Networking is only about meeting new people. It is never about selling your services in that moment, so don’t go to a networking event with the intent to sell. Instead, go with the intent to meet new people and introduce yourself.
2) Before you leave for an event or meeting, pause for a few minutes to set yourself up for an enjoyable time. You can do this by playing your favorite music, and taking some centering breaths. Stick with a warm up routine. When we go to the gym, we usually spend about five minutes warming up. Likewise, you can have a warm up routine before you attend a networking event.
3) Do research about the event and look on LinkedIn to get to know some of the attendees. This will help you feel comfortable and, prepare you for connection.
Stepping into new situations after a long time out of the game can be exciting or daunting. How you prepare your brain will help you to get the most out of every interaction.
For more on relationship networking, you can get my book Sell without Being Salesy; the power of relational networking
