If you've ever worked in a coporate setting or gone to high school, you've probably taken a personality test at one point or another.  I generally think that they are helpful.  They can help co-workers gain insight into how to interact with one another and read each other.  They can help guide individuals to a career path.  But the one thing that always trips me up is the Introvert/Extrovert thing.  I'm not an introvert, but I wouldn't really classify myself as a true extrovert either.  When I think of the extroverts that I know, I think of people who really feed off of big group settings and are really good at networking.  I wouldn't consider myself to be one of those people.

Networking is one of those facts of business life.  It makes most of us pretty uncomfortable (except aforementioned true extroverts).  There are lots of benefits to networking.  It's an opportunity to learn from people with different expertise than you.  Many sales happen because someone knows someone and those connections can happen at networking events.  And if nothing else, it's a good way to find out what is going on in the community.  But just because it's good, doesn't make it easy.

I went to a women's networking event last night with a friend of mine.  It was hosted by her company.  I only knew two people there.  My friend ended up having to leave early for another engagement.  That's usually when I would leave something like that.  I'm alright when I know someone but when I'm on my own it's much harder.  But I sat down with the other woman that I only sort-of know and a few other women and ended up closing out the event.  And I had a great time.  I really enjoyed the conversation and met some women that I otherwise never would have come into contact with.  I hate to admit it but I kind of feed of of that interaction.  Maybe I swing a little further towards extrovert than I thought.

Like me, many of you are probably a little uneasy about networking, so here are some networking tips:
1. Bring a friend who is commited to meeting people too, not just being a wall flower.  It helps to have someone who you know to facilitate conversation with.  Just make sure not to stick to yourselves. 
2. Ask the people you speak with lots of questions about their interests.  I think that I've been told this before but I can't tell you how true it is.  People really open up when they are talking about things they care about.
3. Be informed about local, national and international issues so that you can participate in conversations. Obviously don't be confrontational about your views but it's always good to have a topic in your back pocket.
4. Don't try to sell people something.  If it happens naturally that there is a business connection, great.  But don't do it artificially.
5. Don't take yourself too seriously.  Everyone else feels awkward too.