You might not be the type of person who loves to socialize, attend big parties, and network whenever the opportunity presents itself. But to be a great connector, you don’t have to. Successful connectors who would be classified as introverts will often enter into a social situation with a plan for those they want to meet and connect with. They aren’t looking to talk to anyone and everyone, but would rather reach out with more purpose, to select individuals. And going into a social situation with a plan almost always produces better results than going into a networking event or other meeting just “winging it”. To effectively connect with another person, it doesn’t matter whether you are introverted or extroverted; what matters is that you’ve spent some time thinking about which relationships are most vital, what you are hoping to achieve by reaching out, and having a plan for reaching them effectively.
So, do introverts connect better than extroverts? Sometimes, yes.
Recently, probably the nation’s best known networking professional, came to the realization that he is an introvert! Ivan Misner, PhD, founder of BNI and the author of 11 books on networking, shared with me in an interview I conducted for The Connectors that he discovered he’s actually an introvert. What?! Misner said that his wife of 20 years told him during dinner one night that he displayed many introvert tendencies. Misner was shocked! How could the founder of the largest networking organization be an introvert? “It struck me why I started BNI,” Misner said. “I was naturally uncomfortable meeting new people. BNI created a system that enabled me to meet people in an organized, structured, networking environment that did not require that I actually … talk to strangers.”
So, if we all can potentially be great connectors, how do we jump into it or how can we focus to improve our skills and results? By having a plan. Click here to download the free tool, “For Introverts…and Extroverts: A Plan for Connecting” and become a better connector today!
Maribeth Kuzmeski
Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA is the founder of Red Zone Marketing, LLC, which consults to Fortune 500 firms on strategic marketing planning and business growth. She is the author of 4 books, has frequently appeared on TV and radio, and has written articles on marketing strategies for hundreds of publications including Business Week and Entrepreneur. She regularly speaks to audiences on topics relating to business development, marketing, and sales strategies. Maribeth is author of The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life (Wiley, September 2009).
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