I’m terrified of networking. Please give me some advice on what I can do to get over this.
Be brave. Indeed networking comes naturally to some and requires more effort from others. I, for one, enjoy meeting new people, but often I still need to dig deep and find the courage to introduce myself to someone for the first time.
The keys for me are: believe in yourself and remember we are all human. Think of networking as an opportunity to make a new “friend”, but be professional about it.
In terms of practical advice, get to the event early, that way your first encounter is a one-on-one and much easier to handle. Do this a few times and your confidence will grow, but you have just got to do it, until it becomes easier.
If you take on a “greeter” role thereafter, it makes it a lot easier to introduce yourself and meet others.