Are you an introvert? Admit it or not, socializing is one of your worst nightmares. The latter, on the other hand, seem to be more challenged to mingle with other people. These people prefer being alone than be with random strangers.

Some introverts might be more vocal on social media. They often share memes and post comments on various issues. But their “social media personality” can be different from their “in-person” personality.

Engaging in small talk with a random stranger? “Thanks but no thanks, sir. I’ll just sit here and people-watch.”

Attending public events by yourself or staying at home with your pet dog? “I’ll choose the latter, thank you very much. My dog won’t judge me anyway. ”

Sounds familiar? This article is for introverts like you or someone you know. More so, this is important if you are an introvert planning to start a business.

Being an introvert in the business world

In business, having a large network of people is very important. You need to be chummy with your clients to make sure they stay loyal to your business. You also have to sell yourself to gain more clients and business partners.

However, not everyone is naturally born a PR machine. In reality, it can be challenging to start and maintain a business if you don’t know how to get business contacts. Introverts would also prefer emails and SMS than talking over the phone.

But this doesn’t mean there is no hope for introverts anymore to achieve their business goals. An article by Kevin Daum assures that introverts can be better networkers and succeed in the world of business.

Regardless of one’s personality, anyone can succeed in the world of business. Here are tips that will help improve one’s networking abilities.

One word: Relax.

Find a way to release that pressure off your chest so you can do your business better. Have a deep breath, have a quick bite or drink before an event or activity, or other ways you can do to relax.

Do your own research.

Make sure to do a quick research about the company or person you want to network with. That way, you will feel more confident in dealing with your potential clients. Prepare notes and remind yourself what you want to achieve at the end of the event or transaction.

Be a good listener.

The discussion can become personal at times. Say, the person shares a tidbit of his passion for cars or carpentry skills. This small information can help a lot in establishing rapport with your clients. In return, your clients will appreciate the fact that you pay attention to their quirks outside the business.

Utilize your online presence.

LinkedIn is one of the most popular platforms for establishing business contacts. If you have one, make sure to keep your profile updated. Connect with people that can help you personally and professionally. If you don’t have one yet, make your own profile now.

Think quality over quantity.

It’s not about how many contacts you have. It’s about establishing quality connections with clients and business partners. It is all about focusing on what your business really needs with the help of these contacts.

The perks of being an introvert

There are about 8 billion people in the world today. Whether you like it or not, we need other people to live. However, there are a lot of people that are naturally shy and soft-spoken when talking to others.

But the truth is that we would never outgrow introversion. It is something innate, something that will always be a part of you. Even if you love being with your friends, you prefer to be alone most of the time.

However, this doesn’t mean there’s no hope anymore for introverts. There are still some perks of being an introvert that you can apply as an entrepreneur or an employee.

For one, introverts can be great listeners. They are those whom friends confide to with their problems and heed for advice. They have good observation skills as well.

People tend to listen more to introverts when the latter express their thoughts. It’s not all the time they talk but they do observe a lot. And when they talk, heads will turn and the focus will be on them.

A lot of introverts also tend to be proactive. It means they are able to foresee possible outcomes and prepare for any worst-case scenarios. Being overly prepared is way better than being unprepared at all.

Believe it or not, introverts can also be good leaders. They might not be as verbally expressive as their extrovert counterparts. However, they can be those kinds of leaders who are laser-focused, dedicated, and well-prepared at most times.

Being an introvert is not a bad thing at all. In fact, there are perks that come with introversion. However, it’s not always about you all the time. Sometimes, you need to adjust if you want to achieve your personal or professional goals.

You should also read: Bullet Journals: A Tool to Practice Mindfulness