I arrived in D.C. this evening and went straight into a meeting for work. Luckily they fed us. Otherwise I would have been seriously hungry. I'm really not that great at networking. I need to get better at it. I just feel uncomfortable. I'm supposed to be meeting people, but when they are talking with other people-- it can be awkward to just walk up to the group and stand there until they recognize that you've joined them and say hello. I'm trying, but I have to admit that after the meeting was over this evening, many people stayed around talking to others, and I went and introduced myself to someone- but then I left. I just couldn't take the discomfort any longer.
I think part of the problem is also that I don't like to talk about myself or talk about what i do. I'd much rather hear about someone else's life and ask them questions about it. Maybe that is part of why I am uncomfortable networking. I don't like talking about me. I feel like I'm always stumbling over my words and searching for the most intelligent way to say things. arghh. It makes me frustrated with myself. For awhile I thought my social skills had really increased, but I think I've sunk back to previous levels.
Tomorrow is a full day. 8 am to 8pm. or as I'll be feeling it: 5am to 5pm. ouch.
1 comment:
Liz,
First of all, I'm sorry I'm a week behind on your blog! Secondly, I feel EXACTLY, to a T, like you do about networking! I absolutely hate it (unless I've had a couple of drinks... which I hate to admit). All I can say is that it gets easier for me the longer I do it in one stretch... and that I totally sympathize!
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