Networking is a very important aspect for any career, business, and individual growth. It opens doors to opportunities and leads to successful paths. 

However, a lot of people fear networking especially when they are at a big gathering; many wonder where to start from or even what to say and how to engage.

Fear of networking can be caused by different things like shyness, lack of confidence or poor past experiences- either way, when the fear is set in, it can be hard to overcome.

According to mindtools, career guide site, none of us are born with a natural talent for networking, even the people who really enjoy it. Networking isn’t an ‘innate’ ability; it’s a skill that anyone can learn. You don’t have to be a ‘smooth operator’ or an extrovert go-getter to be successful; you just need to use the right strategies.

Eric Manzi, a student in Mass Media, says that we all have different qualities, so it is no surprise when some people tend to be more fearful of networking than others. Even then, there is something that can be done to conquer the fear.

Focus on meeting the right people, at the right time. Net photo.

He carries on saying that networking is needed everywhere in the business field and in the workplace, hence overcoming the fear helps people in reaching their opportunities.

"A key skill to networking is building friendships; you can start with small conversations that don’t seem weird to you. Approaching a person can be hard but you can start by complimenting them maybe on a presentation they made, or if it is a person with a big title, you can express your admiration towards their work; people love it when another person recognises their work. So if you start from there networking won’t be as scary as you think,” he says.

Manzi points out that a lot of people tend to worry about what they have been planning to say, and it ruins their confidence if they don’t remember the words. But the best way to ease the stress is to prepare the conversation before, and maybe memorise it.

Ali Shema Muhire, a videographer, also agrees that complimenting is a good point to start with, but it also goes with facial expressions that will make you feel comfortable when interacting.

"Facial expressions like smiling to the person you want to network with really helps because if you smile to them, they will return the same expression which will ease the pressure on you and also make the fear disappear.”

And if you also fear being the first to start conversations, join groups where they are talking and try to blend, as you follow what they are talking about. It will make you feel comfortable enough to also say something, he adds.

Diana Ineza, who works in a local tech-firm, says that although networking can be hard for all of us, it is also rewarding in the end, so people should think of it as ‘making friends in kindergarten.’

"Making friends in kindergarten or even in school is easy, you don’t have to come up with a strategy, you just let it flow easily. When networking, try to have an open mind about the people around you, they can be great and kind people, having a simple conversation will not hurt them,” she says.

Mindtools shares a few tips to guide a person through networking:

Be selective

Not all networking events are equally important, and you don’t need to attend every one of them on your calendar, or speak to everyone at the ones that you do attend! Instead, focus on meeting the right people, at the right time and place, and discussing issues that fit your workplace priorities. 

Set goals

Set yourself one or two realistic goals so that you can network in a targeted way, with a clear vision of what you want to achieve. You might want to speak to a particular person, to make one or two meaningful connections that could be useful in the coming months, or gain intelligence about a particular product.

Be realistic

The pressure to perform at networking events can feel intense, so remind yourself that networking is a two-way street. The responsibility to fill any gaps in the conversation doesn’t rest with you alone. Try too hard, or act inauthentically, and you may end up saying something that makes you cringe.