Diversity Woman Magazine

WIN 2018

Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds

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We Mean Business > d i v e r s i t y w o m a n . c o m W i n t e r 2 0 1 8 D I V E R S I T Y W O M A N 21 Another strategy that's helpful is doing what Aarons-Mele refers to as "chunking your time." Determine how long you'll be interacting with people and what you intend to accomplish. Tell yourself, "is is my job. It's not about whether people like me; it's about whether I'm having a A n introvert's networking style should not mirror that of an extrovert. Rather, it should focus on what introverts do best. Here are some of introverts' biggest strengths and how to capitalize on them. PREPARATION "When introverts are on, they're on," says Aarons-Mele. Use LinkedIn to learn about who will be attending and then prepare conversation starters. LISTENING Introverts have a knack for making others feel heard. Although this puts people at ease, don't let the extroverts monopolize the conversation. Add tidbits about yourself to the dialogue. INTUITION Introverts are good at picking up on the subtleties of a room or reading other people's cues. Use that skill to identify someone who feels uncomfortable and go start a conversation with her or him. The Introvert's Networking Strengths good time. I have two hours to do this and here's what I'm going to do." If you're anxious about an event, get there early. "at's when there are fewer people there," Kahnweiler says. It's also easier to find someone standing alone to talk to, and one-on-one interactions are typically more comfortable for introverts. You don't have to stay long to accomplish your goals; even an hour can make a dif- ference. "Nobody really knows how long you're there; they just know they saw you there," Kahnweiler says. Aarons-Mele has found that tag-team- ing with an extrovert helps her ease into conversations. "ey cue me when it's time to talk about myself," she says. In the process, "an introvert can also help an extrovert to shut up, to listen, to tune in. It's yin and yang," Aarons-Mele says. Bush also found that her introversion was a perfect complement to her busi- ness partner's extroverted style. Some clients identify with her partner while some of the more reserved clients feel more comfortable with her. Sending a follow-up thank-you note and communicating via social media are less stressful forms of interaction for in- troverts and good ways to strengthen re- lationships. "As introverts we really want to say the right things," says Jenkins. "With writing, you can do that because you can look over what you say before you actually say it." e important thing is for introverts to balance the energy used to connect with others with the time they need to re- charge. "It comes down to managing your energy, your time, and your environment," Aarons-Mele says. "It's very basic, but it's very powerful." DW Tamara Holmes is a frequent contributor to DW. If you're anxious about an event, get there early. You don't have to stay long to accomplish your goals; even an hour can make a difference. ISTOCKPHOTO

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