Networking for Coaches: Strategies for Introverts

Traditional networking is broken. It is loud, draining, and simply not as effective. Flip the script. Make networking not just effective, but fun. ❌ You do not need to play their game. As an introvert, you already have the edge. You create deeper, more meaningful connections. ✅ You just need to lean into what works for you. Here is your guide to building a powerful network; on your terms. 1️⃣ Find meaningful moments. Skip the noisy crowd. Where do real connections happen? In calm spaces, with approachable people. Shared interests? A quiet energy? That’s your person. 2️⃣ Focus on one great connection. Do you really need to meet everyone? One real conversation beats ten surface chats. Look for someone curious or engaged. That is where the value lies. 3️⃣ Set your own rules. Who says you have to stay all night? Decide how long you want to be there. Pick how many people you want to meet. Protect your energy. It is yours to manage. 4️⃣ Take recharge breaks. Feeling drained? Step away. Find a quiet corner or head outside. Breathe. Reset. Then come back stronger. 5️⃣ Bring a wingperson. Why do it alone if you do not have to? Go with someone who knows you. They can help with introductions. You can focus on the connection, not the crowd. 6️⃣ Ask, then listen. What’s the easiest way to connect? Start with a thoughtful question. “What excites you about your work?” Let them talk. Listening makes people feel heard. 7️⃣ Stick to events that suit you. Why force yourself into constant small talk? Go to workshops or panels. Listen, learn, and join in when it feels right. 8️⃣ Skip the room, use the DMs. Big events feel overwhelming? No problem. Follow up later. Send a message. Be direct and intentional. 9️⃣ Let people come to you. What if you did not have to chase connections? Share your thoughts online. Posts and comments attract like-minded people. 🔟 Find your own style. Networking does not have to look one way. Coffee chats. Small meetups. Online groups. Do it in a way that fits you. ❌ Networking is not about doing everything. ✅ It is about doing what feels right. And when you find your flow, connections will come naturally. ————— I am Sven, and my mission is to help introverted entrepreneurs and professionals thrive as who they are while protecting their energy to focus on their dreams. Want to learn more? Check my profile, subscribe to my newsletter, or feel free to reach out anytime.

BEYOND SMALL TALK: NETWORKING WHEN YOU'RE AN INTROVERT Let's bust a myth real quick: Being an introvert doesn't mean you're bad at networking. It means you're wired for deeper connections – and in today's quick-fix culture, that's to your advantage.    Fun fact: Research shows that introverts typically process information through a longer neural pathway, leading to deeper analysis and more meaningful interactions. Translation? While extroverts might excel at making fast connections, your brain is literally built for the kind of substantive relationships that drive real business growth.   Here are some ways to approach those “dreaded” social interactions your work likely requires.    🎯Go Deep, Not Wide  Forget the outdated metric of success where the size of your rolodex is what mattered. Focus on having one genuine conversation instead of ten shallow ones. Your natural ability to listen deeply and ask thoughtful questions is what builds real professional capital. In coaching, we call this "holding space" – and it's a rare skill in our hyperconnected world.   💡 Choose Your Arena Skip the noisy networking mixers and shine in smaller settings. Think intimate coffee chats, focused workshops, or online communities where you can contribute thoughtfully. The psychological concept of "environmental mastery" suggests that controlling your networking environment directly impacts your effectiveness and authentic presence.   🤝 Lead With Curiosity, Not Elevator Pitches Instead of relying on the old standard of "so what do you do?" conversations, get curious about others. Ask about their challenges, their wins, their insights. Research in interpersonal psychology shows that asking follow-up questions increases likability by 40% – and it's something introverts naturally excel at.   ⚡Share Your Work, Not Your Card Create content, share insights, or contribute to discussions in your field. Let your expertise do the talking. This approach leverages what organizational psychologists call "passive networking" – building relationships through value creation rather than direct outreach.   Remember: Networking isn't about becoming someone you're not. It's about leveraging who you already are.    Now I'm curious: What's your favorite way to connect that honors your introvert energy? Drop it in the comments! 👇

Networking as an introvert feels scary AF. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are 3 tips that helped me build relationships with CEOs, influencers, and high-profile entrepreneurs (without leaving my couch): Context: For Introverts, By An Introvert I’m an introvert through and through. Networking, speaking, etc. Those were all SCARY uncomfortable for me early on. But, like any skill, I got better with practice. Here are 3 strategies that helped the most: 1. Quality > Quantity Instead of: - Going to meetups - Blasting out random connections - Attending conferences I focused on a handful of specific people. They met two criteria: - They had already done what I wanted to do - I was genuinely excited to engage with them 1a. Why Those Criteria? The first is easy. You should only take advice from people who already have what you want. For the second, forcing connections creates so much anxiety. Life is a lot easier when you're genuinely pumped to engage with the people on your contact list. 1b. Why A Handful? Great relationships require depth. By selecting a small set of people you're super excited about, you can invest more energy into each relationship. That energy is going to shine through and lead to a better, stronger, more authentic relationship. 2. Engage On Your Terms The idea of meeting a stranger for a 30-minute coffee terrified me. So I engaged where I was comfortable: virtually. - I commented on their posts. - I left reviews for their podcasts. - I proactively offered feedback on ideas. - I made introductions. 2a. Engage On Your Terms You are your best self when you show up where it's comfortable for you. I love starting in a virtual space because: It's easier to connect. You ease into things. When you meet for coffee down the road? You already have a history! Way less scary. 3. Monitor Your Energy Connecting was a roller coaster for me. I got anxiety beforehand, was super energized during, and exhausted after. Due to that, I limited myself to a certain number of networking convos each week. Then I scheduled non-negotiable "me" time to recharge.

I was recently at an event with a group of professional speakers. Perhaps surprisingly, almost all of us were introverts. Getting up on stage and delivering a keynote? Totally calm. What *really* provokes my anxiety: walking into a crowded room where I don’t know a single person. I hate that feeling so much that years ago, I vowed I’d never again go to a big “networking event.” Instead, I follow a few strategies that make life easier as an introvert who still wants — and needs — to meet interesting people and make business connections: 1)  Host instead of attend — Organize small dinners or gatherings. It flips the dynamic: people come to you. 2)  Leverage 1:1s — Reach out in advance to meet someone for coffee instead of “working the room.” 3) Leverage other events — Invite someone you want to know to join you at a talk, performance, or workshop. For more practical strategies to connect without burnout: ·              Join my newsletter: dorieclark.com/subscribe ·              Share your go-to networking tips below ·              Repost this to help other introverts

You don’t have to be an extrovert to network. Here’s how I did it as an introvert. I used to think networking meant going to big events, awkwardly introducing myself, and forcing small talk with strangers. But I still managed to build a solid network and land great opportunities without faking it. Here’s what actually worked for me: ✅ I started posting actively and commenting on posts. Over time, people started recognizing my name, and real conversations happened naturally. ✅ Career fairs and networking nights were overwhelming, so I focused on setting up quick 20 min coffee chats with people I was interested in. Less pressure, more value. ✅ I posted about my projects, experiences, and things I was learning. Turns out, when you put yourself out there opportunities start coming to you. 🌸 You don’t have to be super outgoing to network. Just be intentional, be yourself, and find what works for you.

How to network as an introvert (a quick guide): First, some quick context... Four years ago, I moved to America. This was after 18 years in China + 7 in Canada. In China, we were taught: • Not to speak up • Respect for authority > being bold and creative • Work hard, follow the rules, and keep your head down As a result, I grew up a quiet introvert. When I came to America, I thought you needed to be extroverted and outgoing to succeed. To be in the top 1%. But after meeting a bunch of successful people – people who built billion-dollar companies and rose through the ranks quickly, but were quiet and thoughtful too. I realized that introversion wasn't a weakness. You just needed to find your own way to succeed. My framework for networking as an introvert: 1/ Ship Your Thinking • Content is your passive networking engine. • Write or create once, reach thousands while you sleep. • My writing has reached millions—more than I could ever meet IRL. • It's opened doors and attracted people who resonate with how I think, what I believe, and what I'm building. 2/ Be a Solitary Socialite • A solitary socialite is someone who is physically alone but digitally connected. • Group chats, DMs, Reddit posts > small talk and overstimulation. • Paradox of modern connection: You don’t have to be loud to be heard – or in the room to be in the conversation. • Start building trust, credibility, and relationships without being IRL. 3/ Find a Cliff • My friend Cliff is one of the most genuine, outgoing people I’ve ever met, and has introduced me to dozens of people. • He talks to 100s of people a month and loves sharing stories, especially about the extraordinary people he's met. • Everyone needs a Cliff – someone who goes around, unintentionally spreading your mission and sharing your work with the world. 4/ Be an Exceptional Conversationalist • You don’t need to be outgoing to be a great conversationalist. • The best conversations are not with the loudest, but the most present. They ask thoughtful questions and make you feel heard. • Being an exceptional conversationalist is all about making the other person feel like the most interesting person in the room.  • Ask better questions. Actually listen. People remember how you made them feel. That’s the superpower. 5/ Master the 60-Second Pitch • Don’t ramble when someone asks, “What do you do?” • Nail your pitch: (1) What you do (2) Why it matters (3) Something unexpected • Example: “I run a tech events and media company. We’ve hosted 200+ events for 40,000+ people. Started it while I worked at Facebook to make friends—it’s now a 7-figure business.” 6/ Play Your Own Game • Superpower of being an introvert: You can be extremely observant, ask thoughtful questions, and be a great listener. • Build leverage through writing and human understanding. • You don’t need to act like an extrovert—you just need to play your own game well. This has helped me find a little success, and I hope it does the same for you.