"Hell is other people."
—Jean-Paul Sartre
—Introverts before going to a networking event

It's been a minute, but conferences and networking events are back, baby! 

For property managers, multifamily marketers, leasing agents and tons more in the industry, this is a good thing—allowing people to learn the newest apartment trends and expand their contacts. And it's not just for those in multifamily! Everyone needs to network.

For extroverts, this means they get to meet new people, share ideas and make contacts. For introverts, this means they have to. 

There are all sorts of tips out there for introverts to make networking easier. Unfortunately, they all seem like they were written by extroverts. Despite what it seems, there are lots of introverts out there—it's estimated that introverts make up 25 percent to 40 percent of the population. As a card-carrying introvert myself (we have a club, but no one attends the meetings), I'm here to help. Here are some common networking tips for introverts that you shouldn't follow, and some new tips that just might work for you.

Standard introvert networking tip: Arrive early.
Why this might not work: The idea is that it's less stressful to get there when there are fewer people so you don't have to break into already-in-progress conversations. What actually happens though, is that you'll awkwardly stand there while the staff is setting up, and as people straggle in they'll stand by themselves pretending to check messages on their phones or they'll wander out to "check if their car is locked" until more people are there. (Remember, other people are introverts, too!) It might seem weird, but it's actually easier to go to an event when there are already a lot of people there, interacting. You can wander around comfortably without all eyes on you until you find people you want to talk to. Stand near a group, and they'll open their huddle circle for you, and then you're in!

Standard introvert networking tip: Bring a friend or peer. 
Why this might not work: Sure, having someone you know will make entering a crowded room of strangers easier. But then you'll likely spend the whole time hanging on to that friend and possibly only talking to them, which defeats the whole purpose of networking. And if they bring other people into the fray, they're likely to lead the conversation, so you might not get what you're looking for.

Read the full blog.