Tip: Procrastination and Perfectionism are bad buddies.
When we first looked at this article, Tired of Things Not Working Your Way? Get Rid of This Thinking Pattern by Marcel Schwantes, we didn’t think it really applied to networking. When we finished it (all of 5 minutes) it seemed like good advice for people who are having a hard time getting back to face-to-face networking.
Here's advice if you’re procrastinating—lose “the perfectionist mindset” because it derails your productivity and self-esteem.
1. Set goals but make them realistic. You don’t have to set the networking bar super high. Simply book something, whether it’s a conference, a speaker event, a reception, or an association event, and then go. Then do it again.
2. Do it without fear or dread. The post-pandemic world offers a fresh start so tell yourself, “I am sure others feel like I do—a little rusty—but I am going to enjoy this.”
3. Go to the event not worrying about the opinion of others. Don’t invest too much personal capital in every interaction you have with people you meet. You click with some, and not with others.
4. Avoid black-and-white thinking -- mostly black. That was a waste of my time. Relax, go with the flow, don’t make networking (meeting new people) such a big deal.
Remember we are all human. And humans need to connect face-to-face.
SHEPA LEARNING COMPANY WEEKLY POSITIVE
NETWORKING® TIP?
?No. 1027, September
13, 2023?
?By Gayle Hallgren and
Judy Thomson