The Art of Soulful Networking Introverted Entrepreneurs' Path to Impactful Relationships

Do you feel like business networking is not for you as an introverted and soulful entrepreneur?

I am here to help! I build multiple businesses through networking and I want to show you how to do the same.

In this week's episode I break down some elements that are necessary for authentic connections.

I'm peeling back the layers of misconception and shining a light on the inherent strengths that introverts possess—strengths that can transform networking from a dreaded task into a fulfilling journey of professional growth and personal enrichment.

If you truly want to use relationship building as networking to build and scale your business - JOIN ME FOR A FREE 60-MINUTE CLASS -
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY NETWORK AS AN INTROVERT
Wednesday, April 17th at 12 PM PST/3 PM EST

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

Hello , my name is Kavita Melwani and I'm a Master Certified Success and Business Coach with two decades of experience as an entrepreneur and almost a decade as a coach . I want to personally welcome you to the Soulful Entrepreneurs Club podcast , where my vision is to empower as many spiritually led businesses to run purposeful and profitable businesses aligned with their true selves . I want you to confidently and opulently shine your light without the overwhelm , the stress or the burnout . Together , we will explore challenges that soulful entrepreneurs face and real , implementable solutions so you can step into your unique purpose and shine . Solutions so you can step into your unique purpose and shine . It is possible to bridge the success you already have with the truest , soulful , mystical parts of yourself . Are you ready to rise up as the leader you were born to be ? Then join me . My soulful friends , the time is now for you to rise up and shine your light . The world needs you . Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Soulful Entrepreneurs Club podcast , and this week I am going to be talking to you about networking for introverts . So I sent out a poll in to my email list and also I posted on social media asking what is it that you would like to learn more about , and this topic is the one that got the most votes . So I will go deeper into this topic in a class that I'll be having , and the registration details will be in the show notes . It will be on Wednesday , april 17th , at 12 PM Eastern , and it's an hour long class where I'll go in depth into what and how to network as an introvert effectively so that you can grow , scale and positively impact your business and your life , and so I will go through strategies , some things you must have in place and make sure that you do . But today I wanted to give you something that you can take care of , take and move forward with .

Speaker 1 2:25

Okay , and so there's some misconceptions about networking and introversion . So one of the misconceptions is that introverts are not good at networking , because when you think about networking , it involves talking to people , involves being around people , and when people , when people think about introverts , they think about someone that likes to be alone , and the reality is introverts like to be around people also . They actually just recharge by being alone . So there are strengths that are unique to introverts that can actually help with being very successful at networking . The challenges come when you try to network like an extrovert or try to emulate someone that is successful but is very different from you , right ? So it's really important I always talk about using strategies for your marketing , building your business , whatever you do to make sure that you are utilizing your strengths and expanding on your strengths . And as an introvert , it can be difficult to be in new groups of people , people that you don't know , and then start to build your business , and even though that feels difficult , it is doable and it can be fun and it can be interesting and it can add a lot of richness to your life and to your business .

Speaker 1 3:56

So first I guess it should be it is important to talk about what networking is . So there's different types of networking . So , first , the one type of networking is industry specific , right ? So if you are a consultant , there may be a consultant's group . If you know , there may be a business networking group that is like for the type of business that you're in , right ? And so there are industry specific groups . Then a different type of group is more of that general business networking group , and within that there are so many different types . Right , there are your chamber events , there is the organization called BNI , which is Business Networking International that are . You know they have industry exclusive events , so only one person from each industry can be a member of each chapter . There are groups focused on only women . There's like mixed groups . There's all kinds of different types of business networking groups . There are larger groups , there are smaller groups , there are groups that meet weekly , there are groups that meet monthly and all in between , and so those are like what you would consider like the traditional networking group .

Speaker 1 5:16

And the third type of networking is not necessarily a networking group but is more like what you do in your life . So if you take a class that you're interested in , or if you are in a book club or if you are in different social groups , those are opportunities for you to network as well , and it's because it's building relationships . Now I'm not telling you to go and now try to sell everybody in your network , because in reality you're not selling to that person necessarily . You are presenting the value that you're going to provide and wanting them to refer you to someone in their network . So having that idea of how can I help talking about your business in a way that is it's like just how a person would talk about work , right , it's not that you're like being like icky and salesy , but just like a connection thing . You know some things that you're doing that are interesting , maybe some strategies that you're trying that are fun , or you know people that you've met that are interesting , and so that's another opportunity that is often missed when it comes to networking .

Speaker 1 6:39

And so when you think about these three types of events , I remember taking a course a while back and being told that you should have all three . Okay , so you should make sure you have an industry specific event , you should have a business networking event , and they even recommended maybe you do a chamber and then an industry specific business networking event , and then also the your regular life , kind of social , social life , like you know , like book clubs and things like that , and of running a business and doing all the things that I do . The thought of being in addition to all the things that I'm doing , to being part of so many groups , it's just overwhelming right . And also , not to mention , I am an introvert myself and it can be draining to be always around people that way for me . So I have to pick and choose what would be the events that I enjoy going to the most and focus on building deep relationships in those groups , and so that is what I'm going to recommend , as an introvert , is don't necessarily use the strategy of let me try to join like as many groups as I can , meet as many people as I can , and like you know , kind of like it's a numbers game and and cause that works for some people . And if you want to do that , maybe when you're just starting out your business , so you can start to build your network . I'm not telling you not to , I just know that if you are truly an introvert , that it's not sustainable over time , and so you know , as long as you know , okay , if I do this , it's for a short term , but in the long run I want to focus on , you know , one or two groups that are business focused or industry focused and then , just you know , utilize relationships in my life , just letting them know what I'm doing , and then you can also use , if you like , a supportive social media platform . So if your client is on Facebook , then you connect with people , you meet and networking on Facebook , and so then you're able to continue that connection there . And of course , there are many other strategies that would make networking effective . This is just the one that I'm going to recommend today , and so you can have something that you can implement immediately .

Speaker 1 9:06

It is really important to be clear about your goals for going to the event . It's important to not sell everybody and think that you're just selling the people in the room . It is also important that you , um are , um , not adding everyone to your email list , okay , cause that's happened to me many times because that's going to turn the people off and you're actually may have a short-term gain of having someone on your email list , but the long-term relationship that you want to build , that's not going to happen , right , they're not going to trust you . You want to build relationships the way that you , as an introvert like you , most likely like to have deeply connected relationships , and that's why I'm recommending that you focus on a couple of events and build relationships in those events , and relationships of depth , okay , and because then you'll look forward to the events , then you'll be able to um , you know , actually build your network from there . And now that's just one part of it .

Speaker 1 10:17

And beyond just building those depth , depth of relationship , there are ways that you can grow your network too , right , because if you just stick to two groups and it's the same people over and over again , then you know you're not going to be exposed to new people .

Speaker 1 10:31

So some groups have visitors and I know that that's helpful to meet new people , and so you want to make sure that , if that's you're a part of a group and they have visitors , that you reach out to visitors that feel like people you want to get to know . And so also , you know , using opportunities that maybe the group has the ability to get together with others in your , in your whole network right Of groups , like there's that possibility going to those things to grow your networks . There's . You know , there's a lot of things that you can do to make it work for you , but starting with making it simple , picking a few , starting to build relationships , familiarity , and then , if you want to know more strategies of how to make it work for you , some other nuances , then register , register to attend the class .

Speaker 1 11:29

I'd love to see you there . It will be free , it will be an hour and if you have any questions beforehand , feel free to message me and you can send me a message on my website and I will get it and I can add anything that you would that you're desiring onto the class , like any questions you have about networking for introverts . You're desiring onto the class , like any questions you have about networking for introverts , so I will be continuing to talk about this topic and give you more strategies over the next few weeks , and then , of course , the class will go more into depth . So until next time , take good care . Bye .