Networking and seeking help from peers in your industry can be a daunting prospect for many professionals. The fear and anxiety associated with networking can often hinder a person’s ability to create meaningful connections.
Below, 14 Young Entrepreneurs Council members share valuable tips and strategies to banish those fears and anxieties related to networking. With these tips, you will feel empowered to build strong industry relationships in the business world with confidence, ease and success.
1. View networking as an opportunity to learn
My approach to banishing fear and anxiety when making industry connections is to engage in networking as a genuine opportunity to learn and share. Instead of only focusing on what you can gain, prioritize building authentic relationships. Listen actively, ask insightful questions, and generously offer your expertise. This approach has always fostered meaningful connections for me, making networking a two-way street of mutual benefit. Remember that everyone has been a beginner at some point and fostering a supportive community is essential to long-term success. – Renato Agrella, Acerca Conseil
2. Believe in your worth
One of the best pieces of advice I can offer is to have a relational rather than a transactional mindset. Many people approach networking thinking, “What can I get out of this?” Instead, change your mindset and think: “What can I offer? or “How can I help this person?” When you believe you have value to give, it builds your confidence. This value could be your unique perspective, your experiences, or even someone else in your network who could be a beneficial connection for the person you are meeting. This reduces fear and anxiety when making connections because you approach it from the perspective of a value producer rather than a value consumer. – Chidambaram Bhat, Integral Technology Solutions, Inc.
3. Attend formal networking events
Attending formal networking events can eliminate some of the anxiety because you can be sure that everyone is there for the same reason: to connect, learn, share, and grow. Seeking out these types of events rather than cold calling thought leaders in your industry can be a great way to gain exposure as it allows you to practice and refine your networking skills with people who are undoubtedly receptive to it. Once you become comfortable in these types of conversations and have developed a foundation, you can expand your networking efforts beyond these organized events. – Samuel Saxton, ConsumerRating.org
4. Be persistent and consistent
Take the plunge and send this message. The worst thing that can happen is that they don’t respond, which is completely normal. There are hundreds of leaders always ready to give free advice and guidance. It’s about being persistent and consistent. You can’t stop just because you messaged someone once and they didn’t respond. You need to remember that if they are a well-known leader in your industry, chances are their direct messages and emails will contain a lot of inquiries. One tip that can get this person’s attention is to engage in every type of content that you can relate to. A simple like and comment on their posts will certainly increase your chances of getting noticed. Enabling a notification for their content will definitely help you engage immediately. – Fritz Colcol, Simply Thalia
5. Use fear as a motivator
Accept that fear is a natural part of networking. This will help you get familiar with it. Understand that everyone is afraid, in one way or another, and it’s okay to be afraid, so run with it. Sometimes fear helps us to be more alert. Start with small steps and gradually increase your involvement even if you are afraid. Your confidence will grow and you will make meaningful connections. Be authentic, ask questions, and listen actively. Remember, fear can be a powerful motivator. Accept it, take those small steps, and turn that fear into a driving force for meaningful relationships and professional growth. – Meeky Hwang, Ndevr, Inc.
6. Be authentic
Resist the urge to sell yourself or your business. Instead, be genuinely interested in your industry peers and learn from their stories of struggles and successes. Focus on them and your shared interests and ideals. This way, you reduce the pressure of having to impress them and can gain their trust for future collaborations. When you are simply passionate and curious, your interactions will be more relaxed and your conversations will flow. Be genuine, because they will probably understand it if you are just there for your personal interests. Honesty and mutual respect will take you far. Acknowledge their expertise by asking for their opinions and be open to their ideas and suggestions. Be aware of limits without being stiff. Have fun and be open, and you will have a good experience. – Bryce Welker, CPA Accounting Institute
7. Be frank to make a connection
You’ll have a better chance of making industry connections if you can clearly tell people who you are, what you need help with, and how you hope to add value to their lives. Inboxes on LinkedIn are usually full of messages where people beat around the bush just to try to sell something. If you want people to see your message as something different, make it clear from the start that you’re not trying to sell a product or service; you just want to mutually connect with like-minded people. – John Turner, SeedProd LLC
8. Ask the Potential Connection for Help
Use the Ben Franklin effect. Ask someone in your industry a question or advice. Believe me, most people like to help others, so you will probably get warm responses. The Ben Franklin effect is a cognitive bias that causes people to like someone after doing them a favor. It is named after Benjamin Franklin who, in his autobiography, recounts how he asked his rival if he could borrow a book from his library. His rival agreed, and when Franklin later returned the book, he commented on how much he liked it, which led to a discussion and then a great friendship. You can use this approach for networking, especially if you are nervous or don’t know what to say. As Franklin says, “He who has done you good once will be more willing to do you another.” » – Shu Saito, All filters
9. Start small and practice
Networking is a skill, not an innate talent. Practical. Start by attending low-stakes events or participating in online forums. Set a concrete goal: “Today I am going to introduce myself to three people.” Equip yourself with industry knowledge and current events. This gives you conversation starters. Finally, follow up. A simple “great meeting” email or message solidifies connections. Consistency breeds confidence and each interaction is a step closer to mastery. – Idan Waller, Blue Throne
10. Remember you have nothing to lose
To deal with fear or anxiety when asking others for help or making connections in your respective industry, think about what you have to lose: absolutely nothing. In the worst case scenario, either your messages would go unanswered or you would face rejection in a reply. In either case, you have nothing to lose. So don’t be afraid when reaching out to people in your respective industry. You won’t know what’s going to happen unless you try anyway. So, do your best and be confident when making connections. – Stephanie Wells, Great shapes
11. Connect with people in similar situations
One of the best ways to ease anxiety when looking to make industry connections is to reach out to people who are in the same boat as you. It’s intimidating to contact someone with millions of customers when you’re looking to secure your first 100 or 1,000 customers. However, connecting with people with similar experience is a great way to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, share ideas, and feel comfortable speaking to others in a professional setting. – Daman Jeet Singh, Funnel kit
12. Use storytelling rather than formal pitching
Banishing the fear and anxiety of making industry connections can be a game-changer for many budding entrepreneurs and marketers. Let me advise you on a unique approach: To overcome networking anxiety, consider storytelling rather than formal pitching. This involves finding commonalities, sharing relevant experiences, displaying your expertise, using engaging visuals (if possible), and making thoughtful follow-ups. Storytelling on social platforms is a natural networking technique that I have personally found to be very effective. So, use it wisely to create unique and memorable stories that open doors to lasting professional relationships. – Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
13. Attend networking events with a friend
Bring a friend or colleague to accompany you when you attend networking events. This way you won’t feel alone; you will naturally feel more confident knowing that there is someone who has your back. When you don’t know anyone at an event, having someone familiar with you helps ease tension and anxiety. Two is always company, as others may be drawn to your small circle and want to start a conversation. But be sure to give your friend and yourself the space to mingle with others as individuals, identifying and exploring common interests while coming together at times to share and pool your thoughts. Having a friend also helps create accountability if you feel distracted from your focus while networking. – Brian David Crane, Spread good ideas
14. Look for potential links
Do your research. Before asking professionals in your industry for help or expanding your network, know the people you will contact. Get to know their area of expertise, interests, vision, etc. This information will not only boost your confidence but also help you deliver a great pitch. Since you’ve done your research, there’s little chance your query will be rejected or face a rebuttal, which can keep fear or anxiety to a bare minimum. – Jared Atchison, WPForms