Does networking make you feel anxious? How to master it with tips from the experts
There’s no getting around it: walking into a room full of people you don’t know can feel incredibly intimidating. It’s a butterflies-in-your-stomach kind of moment. But, if you want to get ahead in your career, you have to get comfortable with it, because IRL networking is essential.
There’s a certain magic in getting together face to face. Events offer a great opportunity to connect with others and make a lasting impression. Online connections are valuable, of course, especially for people who may find it difficult to attend in-person events, but if you can show up in person, do.
‘Industries: Your Way In’, in partnership with LOOSE.fm, aims to help people get ahead in their chosen industry. Our recent event focused on the music industry with an engaging panel discussion and, you guessed it, an opportunity to network with peers into the evening.
We spoke with Mark Freeman, founder of LOOSE; Tiffany Calver, broadcaster, DJ and British music tastemaker; Komali Scott-Jones, A&R Director at AWAL; and Toyin Mustapha, senior music and platform executive, to gather their top networking tips.
Don’t be afraid to go solo
It’s easy to make excuses not to go to an event, from lengthy travel time to simply not feeling in the mood. Don't let having no one to go with be on that list. Many people go to events on their own and it’s a perfect way to meet like-minded people.
“I spent a lot of time at gigs and events by myself and over the years, you kind of work that social muscle, and you're able to connect to people that have way more in common with you than you think,” says Komali Scott-Jones. “Making friends and new acquaintances is free.”
You may even find attending events rather freeing. Yes, really. Without a friend to hide behind, you’re thrown in at the deep end and that pushes you to be proactive about starting conversations. Try it.
Get comfortable with introducing yourself
If you’re feeling the pre-event jitters, a little preparation can do wonders. “Practice saying what you do (or what you want to do) in a sentence,” says Mark, who is particularly passionate about sharing networking tips for introverts like himself.
It’s simple, yet effective. If you start a conversation with a clear, confident introduction, you’ll feel more at ease and enjoy the conversation. And it beats kicking yourself for fumbling your words.
Have a strategy
Without wanting to suck all the fun out of the event, it is worth having a bit of a plan before you arrive.
For example, if you know someone with your dream job is going to be there, don’t hesitate to approach them – and crucially, make sure you ask questions that count.
“The best thing you can do is get out there, meet the people who were once in your shoes that you look up to and ask them how they did it,” says Tiffany.
Put yourself out there
While it might feel like the most unnatural thing in the world, getting stuck into conversation is better than standing awkwardly on the sidelines with no one to talk to. Trust us!
“Don’t be afraid to approach someone,” says Mark. As an introvert, one tactic he uses is to speak to other people lingering on the edges of an event. “I seek those people out and start talking to them because then we can be awkward together,” he reveals. There are plenty of ways to network in the music industry, you don’t have to be in the centre of the room to meet people.
Find common ground to break the ice
Tiffany’s first real taste of networking was meeting a successful broadcaster and presenter. “I just went over to her and very organically was like, ‘I love your shoes.’” As a self-confessed sneakerhead, Tiffany found that a shared interest helped her feel at ease and make an authentic introduction. “She ended up becoming a bit of a mentor for me,” she adds.
For Komali, finding shared interests is “an easy way in” to building meaningful relationships. “I can't stress enough how much of an icebreaker it is to be around people that share a passion, whether it's for the artist, the genre, the music,” says Komali. “It means that you're gonna have more success building that network because you're all in it for the same reasons.”
Listen to really connect
“Be ready to listen to others and not just talk about yourself”
says Mark Freeman.
When you’re in a new environment and feeling nervous, it’s tempting to spend too much time in your head, worrying about feeling awkward or planning what you’ll say next. When you listen, and we mean really listen, you can connect on a deeper level. You’ll spot opportunities to collaborate or support and pick up useful information to help you in your career or to follow up after the event.
Networking events are goldmines of wisdom and future opportunities, so don’t drown them out with your own internal voice.
Make time for your peers
Many people will head straight for the most senior or well-known person in the room to make an impression. It’s a perfectly good strategy, but vertical connections aren’t the only way to further your career. Sometimes the best person to connect with is right in front of you.
“Instead of looking up, if you just look forward or around you or even below, that's usually where things are bubbling or where the next big thing is happening,” says Tiffany. “Just look at your peers, look at what's going on around you.”
Grow your confidence
“Don't worry if you don't have the confidence now,” says Toyin. “A lot of people do find it hard to put themselves out there.”
If everyone else seems effortlessly confident now, chances are they weren’t always that way. Confidence takes time to grow, it just takes practice. You don’t have to be the life and soul of the event, leaving with 100 new best friends. All you need is one or two connections to start with.
The more events you go to and the more you put yourself out there, the easier it will become.
Show up anyway
If you’re not feeling confident or in the mood for an event, Tiffany’s advice is to show up anyway. “People will remember who is in the room, so if you show up time and time again, that's an impression in itself,” she says.
Komali agrees. Showing up is the key to everything. “You've gotta find your own way, comfortable way. It's not always gonna be the same as everybody else, but show up, and whether that's in real life or online, hopefully you can manage both.”
Your Next Move
Find an IRL event taking place in your chosen industry in the next month and commit to going.
If you didn’t get tickets to Your Way In: Music, you can catch the full conversation on YouTube or read our blog post on how to break into the music industry with no contacts. We’ll also be posting highlights and takeaways from the event across our blog and social accounts to help people make their next move.