In episode three of 'The Network Effect,' host Brian Colburn addresses the common fears associated with networking—such as fear of rejection, fear of judgment, and fear of failure. He explains the psychological reasons these fears hold professionals back and shares practical strategies to manage and overcome networking anxiety. Listeners will learn how to start small, prepare conversation starters, shift focus to others, practice positive self-talk, and set achievable goals to feel more confident in networking situations. Brian also shares personal stories and emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships over transactional interactions. The episode concludes with a preview of crafting the perfect elevator pitch in the next episode.
Discussion Topics
00:00 Introduction to Episode 3
00:27 Understanding Networking Fears
01:38 Identifying Common Networking Fears
02:32 Why Networking Fears Hold Us Back
03:52 Practical Strategies to Overcome Networking Anxiety
06:36 Personal Stories and Experiences
08:22 Key Takeaways
09:16 Preview of Next Episode
09:42 Closing Remarks
Transcription
Transcribed by Descript*
Welcome back to episode. Number three of the network effect where we help you transform relationships into opportunities. I'm your host, Brian Colburn. And if you've just joined us, you're in for possibly an uncomfortable episode.
Last time we discussed networking basics. What it is, why it's essential and longterm value, it can bring to your career. Today, we're diving into a crucial topic for anyone looking to improve their networking skills. Overcoming the fear that often comes with it.
Now let's be honest.
Networking can be intimidating walking into a room full of strangers, starting a conversation, and putting yourself out there can trigger anxiety for even the most confident professional.
But here's the thing. Those fears can be managed and even turned into strengths with the right mindset and strategies. In this episode, we'll discuss the common fears associated with networking. Why they hold us back and most importantly, how to overcome them so that you can approach your networking event.
With confidence.
Here we go.
Today's discussion will be broken down into three main topics, identifying common networking fears, understanding why these fears hold you back and practical strategies to overcome networking anxiety.
By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with the practical tips and a fresh mindset that will help you tackle your next networking event without fear.
Let's get into it.
Let's start by talking about identifying common networking fears.
You're not alone. If the thought of networking makes you nervous. Many professionals, even those at the top of their game, experiencing fear when connecting with others. Here are a few of the most common fears people face.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of not knowing what to say.
Fear of judgment. Fear of
coming off as self-serving.
Fear of failure.
For some, it's the fear that their efforts will be wasted. That they'll go to an event, speak to a few people and walk away with nothing to show.
These fears are very real and understandable, but they don't have to stop you.
By recognizing these fears, you can start to address them. Head-on.
Now that we've identified some common fears. Let's dive into why these fears hold us back. The truth is that our brains are wired to avoid discomfort.
Networking pushes us out of our comfort zones. So our brains respond by telling us to avoid the situation altogether. The fear of rejection or judgment in particular can paralyze us. Preventing us from taking the first step to introduce ourselves.
This has a psychological effect that limits professional growth when you're afraid to approach people, you miss opportunities to form connections that could lead to mentorships business deals, a new career path.
And here's another thing to consider. The longer you let these fears control you, the more powerful they become.
Each time you avoid a networking event, your brain associates, networking with fear, making it harder to tackle the next time.
So how do we break this cycle? The key is understanding that the discomfort you feel is temporary.
And most of the time, those worst case scenarios are imagining being rejected, running out of things to say rarely happened.
Most people are at networking events. For the same reason you are to connect, to learn and to grow.
Now let's talk about the part you've been waiting for.
Overcoming networking anxiety.
Here's some practical strategies to help you overcome your fears and become a more effective networker.
Start small and practice start small. If the idea of a significant networking event makes you anxious. Attend a smaller gathering or practice networking with people you already know. This could be work-related coffee meetings or a casual gathering. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become.
Prepare ahead of time. One of the most significant sources of anxiety is the fear of not knowing what to say. To overcome this, prepare a few conversation starters in advance. These could be simple questions.
Like what brings you to this event? Or how did you get started in your industry? Having these ready can ease the pressure.
Shift focus to others instead of focusing on your nerves, focus on the person you're speaking with. Ask thoughtful questions and listen to their answers. Not only does this take the spotlight off of you? But it also makes you a more engaged and thoughtful conversationalist. Which is what networking is all about.
Practice positive self-talk. Your internal dialogue can make or break your confidence. If you're telling yourself I'm going to embarrass myself or I'm not good enough to be here, you're setting yourself up for failure. Instead practice positive, self-talk.
Remember that you have something valuable to offer and that networking is a learning process for everyone.
Set small achievable goals before attending a networking event, set a small goal. For example, instead of aiming to meet 10 people focused on having meaningful conversations with just two or three individuals. Setting realistic achievable goals will reduce the pressure and help you feel accomplished by the end of the event.
Focus on building relationships, not transactions. One significant fear people have is coming off, self-serving. The key to avoiding this is to approach networking with a mindset of building genuine relationships, instead of thinking, what can I get out of this?
Focus on how can I help this person? This simple shift in mindset will make your conversations more authentic and less stressful.
Accept that it's okay to be nervous. Everyone feels some anxiety in new social situations, and most people won't even notice if you're nervous. What matters is that you show up and make the effort to connect.
So before we get into a couple of takeaways, I want to share a couple of stories. I would be paralyzed when it came time to networking. So I set myself a goal to start attending one event a week. And when I'm at these events, I want to walk up, introduce myself and talk to at least five people. Now say if I was at a convention where there were hundreds of people, my goal went to 10. And every break in between sessions, I would introduce myself and start a conversation with two people. I would attempt to exchange business cards or maybe connect with them on LinkedIn on the spot. And having that goal of 10. Helped me get over the fear because I wanted to achieve the goal I set for myself with 10. And honestly, sometimes when I hit my goal for that event, I'm like, I'm done. I'm out. I would leave the event because I hit my goal.
Now networking. Doesn't paralyze me like it used to. Walking up to strangers, introducing myself, talking to people. It just doesn't bother me anymore.
And another great practice that I would do. I would go to a locals farmer market. And I would walk up to a boot that selling say, pet treats, organic homemade pet treats. And I would start a conversation. Tell me about your products. Why are they better? How do you cook them and just ask them questions about them, their process, their products. And it really helped me get over the fear I used to feel.
So would that story having been told let's jump into key takeaways from today's episode.
Identify your networking fears, acknowledge these fears, whether they involve rejection, judgment, or not, knowing what to say, is the first step to overcoming them. Understanding the psychological impact.
Recognizing how these fears hold you back will help you confront them and push past the discomfort.
Use practical strategies to overcome anxiety. By preparing ahead of time. Shifting the focus to others, practicing positive self-talk and setting small goals. You'll feel more confident in any network situation.
Networking is like any other skill, the more you practice, the better you'll get. So don't let fear stop you from building the connections that could change your life.
Next episode, we're going to discuss something. Every professional needs to master, crafting the perfect elevator pitch. If you've ever struggled to explain who you are or what you do. Shortly and memorably episode four is for you. I'll break down these essential elements of an effective elevator pitch and show you how to make a lasting impression in 30 seconds.
Thank you for tuning in to network effect this week, where we help you transform relationships into opportunities.
If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review on whatever app you're listening to. It helps others find the show.
And as always, if I can be of service to you, please do not hesitate to reach out links to my social platforms are in the show notes below.
And I tell you what, this is off the cuff. I have a cheat sheet of conversation, starters open-ended questions. Shoot me a DM on your social media platform of choice that I'm on that has a link in the show notes below. I'll be more than happy to send you my list. So throw me that DM and we'll get this cracking.
Until next time, keep connecting and keep growing.
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