Can you relate to this?

http://www.arcamax.com/pickles/s-339599-324141

I know I can!

You know that an important aspect of attending workshops, conferences, and other events, is meeting the other participants. But as an introvert, it can be challenging (to say the least) to approach strangers in a crowded room, when you’d really rather be sitting in the corner or, better yet, at home playing with your cat.

Savvy introverts have learned that there is a way to meet a large number of people without the discomfort of introducing yourself to strangers, the fear of interrupting a conversation, or the awkwardness of making small talk. Their secret is to volunteer at the registration desk. This role provides the opportunity to meet nearly everyone as they come in (depending, of course, on the number of people staffing the registration desk) and something to say to them (here is your name tag, the bar is over there, etc.) without having to step very far outside their comfort zone. And, because most people will be eager to move on to where the activities are taking place, they’re unlikely to want to stick around and engage in lengthy conversation.

Why not try it, the next time you have a large event to attend?

There are a few interesting articles on Helium on the topic of Business ideas for the introvert. As would be expected, the businesses listed allow the individual to work alone and with minimal interaction with others. I was surprised to note, however, that none of the authors suggested virtual assistance, which is my own line of work, and a field that is growing by leaps and bounds. Although the services offered by virtual assistants vary according to the skills and interests of the individual VA, they may include many of the tasks mentioned in the above articles, e.g., graphic design, writing articles, blogs, and/or web content, ghost writing, preparing brochures and leaflets, website development, and research.

In addition, since VAs typically work from their homes and conduct most communication via email or online with only occasional telephone calls or in-person meetings, it allows them to focus on a task for long stretches of time without interruptions, just the way they like it.

You can find more information about virtual assistance at the Virtual Assistant Articles Directory. Maybe it’s just what you’ve been looking for!

One of the blogs I like to read is Jay Robb reviews business books, because I’ve always enjoyed Jay’s column in the career section of my local newspaper. He recently reviewed The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional and Virtual Networks by Michael Dulworth, President & CEO of Executive Networks.

In The Connect Effect, Dulworth shares a wealth of information about effective networking, and because he’s an introvert himself, his advice is much more “doable” than that offered by some other experts. For example, it’s frequently suggested that you set a goal for each networking event that you attend, and an extraverted author might suggest that your goal might be to meet 10 new contacts. I can’t imagine talking to a total of 10 people at a two-hour event, let alone 10 new people! Dulworth’s recommendation is to aim for three or four substantive conversations at your next social event, instead of working the whole room.

For more of Michael Dulworth’s networking tips, read Jay Robb’s review, or better yet, read the book itself!

It has come to my attention that most of my postings lately have dealt with networking. Although it’s an important subject for anyone who is promoting a business or seeking employment, I’m afraid I’m starting to get a little repetitive, so today I’m going to venture out into the Blogosphere and visit another introverted blogger.

R. Quinn is an American who describes herself as a “recovering screw-up” and an “academic slave.” In her blog, The Professional Student, she recently wrote an interesting post with the simple title “I am an introvert.” in which she talks about her own experiences with other people’s perceptions of introversion and explains very clearly the differences between extraverts and introverts. It’s definitely worth a read!

So many aspects of networking events can be brutal for introverts – approaching strangers, making small talk, self-promotion – but recently I had the pleasure of attending a networking event that basically did away with all of those things. Called “Intimate” Alliances, it was organized by Neworld Coaching to help business owners explore joint ventures with one another. Each participant met with every other person in the room for an allotted period of time, during which we asked each other a series of specific questions. In other words, you didn’t have to go up to people and introduce yourself if you weren’t comfortable doing that, because you would be meeting everyone at some point anyway. You didn’t have to make small talk, because there were structured discussion topics. And you didn’t have to promote your products or services, because that wasn’t the purpose of the event.

If that still sounds like too much interaction for you, Neworld Coaching has another solution that might be right up your alley - their Beehive Game Online lets you network from the comfort of your own home or office!

I’d like to add that both forms of networking have proven effective for me, as well as letting me stay in my comfort zone!

I am constantly coming across blogs related in some way to introversion. There must be something about the nature of blogging that appeals to us introverts. We can stand up and say what we think without having to actually stand up and say what we think!

My latest discovery is Power Networking for Introverts which has the tagline “A blog by an introvert for introverts.” Written by Marcy Phelps of Phelps Research, it provides lots of tips and helpful resources, including book reviews. While I was poking around, it brought me to an article on another blog called 25 articles on networking for shy people which should give you plenty to read over the next while!

Generally speaking, introverts do not look forward to networking events, but view them as a necessary evil. Unfortunately, you don’t gain any benefit from attending a networking event if you sit in a corner by yourself or only talk to people you already know. If you tend to fall into either of those traps, or if you avoid networking altogether because you find it too difficult to engage in conversation with strangers, you owe it to yourself to read Maria Marsala’s Top 10 Questions To Ask At A Networking Meeting. They include everything from basic information such as “Tell me about your company” and “May I have your business card” to more specific questions like “What is the best way to refer someone to you?”

Perhaps the best suggestion in Ms. Marsala’s article is to prepare your own answers to those questions as well – that way, when someone approaches you, you won’t be tongue-tied and go home saying “I wish I’d thought of telling him about….”!

Last fall I wrote about business communication coach Nancy Ancowitz, who offers a course called “Self-Promotion for Introverts.” I’ve just found out that she has a new course coming up in March, called Presentation Skills for Introverts. Sure makes me wish I was closer to New York City! I’ve been asked to speak to a number of groups since launching my business, and although it’s become less painful the more I do it, I could sure use some tips to present my ideas “with confidence and passion” as well as “body language, vocal variety, managing jitters, and staying attuned to [my] audience.”

Victoria University in the University of Toronto held a workshop earlier this week called Being An Introvert in an Extrovert’s World, which addressed “the difficulties introverts encounter in university and provide tips for overcoming them, and for discovering the strengths that introverts bring to the table.” What a fabulous idea! Going to university or college can be quite an overwhelming experience, especially for residents of smaller communities who may be living in a big city away from their friends and family for the first time, and even more so if they are also introverts. It’s great to see that someone recognizes this challenge and is actually doing something to help. Having a better understanding that introversion doesn’t have to be a liability will continue to be beneficial as they leave the academic world to begin their careers.