A Better Approach to Networking
Do you shy away from talking to new people at networking events? Have you ever walked into the room and felt a tightness in your chest as you stood there, sweating, wondering what to say? Most of us can relate to some version of this experience. Meeting strangers — especially in the context of work — is uncomfortable. Just the thought of networking can provoke discomfort and anxiety. This is because, as humans, we have an innate need to be liked. Research shows we even have a tendency to connect our self-worth to the number of people who like us. Those of us who have a high need of approval place great importance on interpersonal relationships, and the thought of failing to make a great impression is stressful. Many people also struggle with performance anxiety — the fear of failing to do something well and the consequences that will follow as a result. In the case of networking, we may be afraid that we will say the wrong thing, forget what we were going to say, or stumble over our wo
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