It is game on, friends!
But boy oh boy, am I ever out of practice!
This month I’m on the road at two large conferences and as an introvert, the whole experience has been a blur.
Surrounded by my vibrant extrovert friends, and being in sessions back-to-back-to-everlovin’ back has been challenging to navigate, to say the least. I often leave these events longing for a few days of respite at home. Our industry is chock-full of extroverts, and we’re about bringing people together. So it’s no wonder why over the years I’ve really questioned my calling to be an event professional.
Was I placed in the wrong industry? Was I even a good fit for more years of service in an industry I loved, but often will deplete me of my energy?
The good news is, once I started living out my authentic self, I learned that the hospitality industry is full of introverted professionals, just like me. We all love our industry deeply, but we need to manage our hectic, networking schedules a bit differently than our extroverted friends. With the right practices in place, hospitality industry introverts thrive in their roles and at networking events.
Social media platforms are a great way to learn about people and create warm connections with your clients and partners prior to meeting them in person. When you finally meet face-to-face, the introduction is easier as you have already connected online. Consider connecting with your clients via LinkedIn, where making connections is a bit more accepted, especially when we don’t know the person at all.
Or, consider inviting a few warm connections or people you’d like to meet for a pre-event drink or coffee. If you know they’re introverts, even better – then you can walk into the networking event together as partners. Meeting in these smaller groups before a larger event will help you break the ice at the larger event, and gives you an opportunity for deeper conversations in a somewhat quieter setting.
Do you attend events with a team in tow? Ask an extroverted friend or colleague to introduce you directly to a few people. Extroverts can help break the ice and take the burden off your shoulders to carry the conversation.
One of the best ways to tackle the noisy networking receptions is to arm yourself with a few conversation starters. While it’s easy to start a conversation with the typical, “When did you get in?” or “Is this your first time here?,” creating some deeper questions can lead to deeper conversations.
Don’t forget to exercise your biggest strength, introverts! Listen to the conversation. By listening rather than talking, you’ll pick up on cues to launch into additional questions for your conversation partner. Allow your partner to take the spotlight, they’ll appreciate your attention, and you’ll brand yourself as someone who cares and can be trusted.
Don’t want to party at the loud bar after the event? Invite some to join you for a post-networking event cocktail or coffee at the hotel lobby lounge. Wind down with good conversation and call it an early night. You’ll be primed for a better tomorrow versus those that stay out late. Or, try doing your prime networking in the morning. You’ll be at your best in the early morning as will some other early birds. Create your community with these like-minded individuals and connect with them over a cup of coffee versus a wine glass.
And finally, being “on” and networking for three or four straight days as introverts can be exhausting. Ensure you build in some downtime after your events to unwind and get back to equilibrium.
Introverts, while networking and entertaining non-stop may not be our favourite activity in the world, it’s not a bad place to be when you do some pre-planning and prep for the event ahead. Best of luck at your next event, and if you see me there, please come say “hi” to a fellow introvert!
Leanne Calderwood, CMP, is a personal branding and LinkedIn trainer for the meetings, events, and hospitality industry. She believes our industry is built on experiences, and that experience should start with our professionals.
She serves hospitality professionals and teams through her online courses and consulting services to help guide #eventprofs out of the shadows and into the spotlight using their branding strengths and stories.
When she’s not talking shop, you can find Leanne drinking tea, making jam, and gardening at her home in Kelowna, B.C. with her husband, two teenage sons, and her dog, Farls Barkley.
You can learn more about Leanne over on her blog at www.leannecalderwood.com
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