Networking for introverts

[wshaffer]

I went to a panel on "Women and Innovation" last night held by the SV Tech Forum Women's group. The panel was quite interesting, but I was sort of dreading the "networking hour" preceding it, because I was tired and not really feeling like making awkward conversation with strangers. But I went, and I chatted with some folks, and it was better than a trip to the dentist.

And then the teenage daughter of one of the women I'd been chatting to bounced up to me and said, "Hey, so my mom says you write?"

And I said, "Yes, I'm a technical writer."

"What's that?"

And so I told her about technical writing, and we swapped high-school newspaper stories (the last-minute rewriting of copy to fit the available space is still a highly sought-after skill in the high-school newsroom), and she's interested in having me come and talk to her journalism class about tech writing.

That was considerably better than a trip to the dentist.

And I had a chat with someone who taught me the ultimate Silicon Valley icebreaker ("So, are you starting a company?"), and who wants me to come to more SV Tech Forum meetings so I can help company founders pitch their ideas to end users better. (Considering how much time I spend trying to convince people that one of greatest assets tech writers bring to a team is our ability to understand and speak to users, it was weird to meet a complete stranger who already took that for granted. It felt a bit like charging at a brick wall only to discover it was a hologram.)

Comments

[inflectionpoint.livejournal.com]

I am so proud of you! That is an excellent edge to be pushing, and I'm glad you did.

There are plenty of icebreakers you can use, and I can share some if you want. I'd start by remembering that 80% of the people there feel as awkward as you do - you just can't see into their heads. The other 20% are either extroverts or pros at this (I am not an extrovert, I'm a pro.)

One of the things I do like most about networking is I've met potential friends and not-quite-friends that I might never have met. I've met former marine demolition experts who are quality managers, health food geeks who are quality staff, people who do amazing metalwork and machining (I'm thinking jewelry and titanium pandora beads, how about you...), and folks who share similar exercise interests.

One way to be less likely to have awkward interactions is to go to higher level events - events like AWIS have a large number of people there who are not expert dancers. Put a large number of noob dancers together on a floor and it's awkward. Put a few noobs into an expert dance group and it flows better and it can be a faster learning curve.

HUGS! and GO YOU! you are awesome!

[wshaffer.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I would love to swap tips with you some time. I've come a long way from the days when I would go to events like this and sit in a corner and stare into a cup of coffee all evening. I've gotten much better at introducing myself to people and starting conversations, but I still have a ways to go in learning to keep the conversation flowing.