Simple Self-Awareness Hack That Makes Networking Feel Natural.

For years, I told myself I wasn’t great at networking. It didn’t feel authentic, and honestly, it would drain me and leave me feeling exhausted.

 

I used to observe the best networkers. They looked relaxed and comfortable. This led me to believe they were all extroverts, which is where my natural inclination to stay in the background was very limiting and working against the process.

 

But then I had a breakthrough. The shift happened when after lots of reflection and conversations with great networkers, I stopped trying to be a stereotypical outgoing social networker. I started focusing on what assessments had taught me about my own strengths: I’m a naturally good listener with genuine curiosity and an interest in helping people.

 

I now focus on one-to-one conversations and follow-up with value. The anxiety disappeared because I leveraged my strengths instead of trying to fit in and act super cool.

 

Personal growth isn’t about changing who you are; it’s about heightening your self-awareness, embracing your style, and leveraging your strengths.

 

I recommend taking a robust assessment that measures more than just personality. Look for one that will assess your whole self, (self-promotion alert: Try our GPI solution), including:

 

Cognitive (How You Think): Gain insights into how you process communication, reason, problem-solve, and make sense of “stuff.”

 

Behaviours (How You Act): Uncover your natural behaviours and tendencies and learn how you interact with others.

 

Interests (What Drives You): Discover what truly motivates you and what you enjoy doing.