If you’re a founder or business owner, networking events are part of the job—whether you enjoy them or not.
And while some people walk into a room and immediately thrive, for many of us, it takes a bit more intention. Not because we’re bad at networking, but because the way these environments are structured doesn’t always match how we naturally communicate or process things.
After attending a number of networking events and vendor showcases recently, we started paying closer attention—not just to what felt challenging, but also to what actually helped. And what we realized is this:
Networking isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about finding an approach that works for how you operate.
1
Networking Feels Harder Than It Used To
One of the biggest realizations we had is that networking has genuinely become more difficult over time.
Between running a business, having less social energy, and even the impact of COVID on how we interact, a lot of people are simply out of practice when it comes to in-person conversations. You can feel it at events, people are a bit more guarded, conversations don’t flow as easily, and there’s often a layer of awkwardness that wasn’t as noticeable before.
The important part is recognizing that this isn’t just a personal struggle. Most people in the room are navigating the same thing. When you shift your mindset from “I’m bad at this” to “we’re all figuring this out,” it removes a lot of unnecessary pressure.
2
Preparation Has a Bigger Impact Than You Think
3
The Environment Can Be Overstimulating
Networking events are often designed to be high-energy, but that can work against you if you’re sensitive to noise, light, or crowded spaces.
Loud conversations, bright lighting, and constant movement can make it difficult to focus, especially when you’re trying to listen, process, and respond at the same time. It’s not just “a little distracting”, it can be mentally exhausting.
The key is to manage what you can. That might look like:
- Arriving earlier, before the space fills up
- Stepping outside or taking short breaks when needed
- Positioning yourself in quieter areas of the room
- Using tools (like noise-reducing earplugs) to help control input
When you reduce the external noise, it becomes much easier to stay present in the conversation you’re actually in.
4
Good Conversations Come From Curiosity, Not Performance
A lot of the pressure around networking comes from feeling like you need to say the right thing or present yourself in a certain way.
In reality, the conversations that work best are the simplest ones.
Approaching people with genuine curiosity – wanting to understand what they do, what brought them there, or what they’re working on – creates a completely different dynamic. It takes the focus off of you performing and puts it on building a real interaction.
Even something as small as:
- complimenting something you genuinely notice
- asking how their day has been
- making a light, human comment
…can lower someone’s guard immediately and make the conversation easier for both of you.
5
Small Talk Isn’t the Goal—It’s the Entry Point
Small talk gets a bad reputation, especially if you’re someone who prefers deeper conversations. But it plays an important role.
It’s not meant to be the entire conversation; it’s just a way to ease into one.
Trying to skip it and jump straight into business can feel forced, both for you and the other person. Letting the conversation warm up naturally creates space for something more meaningful to develop.
And if it doesn’t? That’s fine too. Not every interaction needs to lead somewhere.
6
Body Language Shapes Your Interactions Before You Speak
Before you say anything, people are already picking up signals from how you present yourself.
Things like eye contact, posture, and facial expression play a bigger role than most people realize. Standing with open body language, making brief eye contact, and simply looking approachable can invite conversation without you having to initiate it every time.
On the flip side, being on your phone, avoiding eye contact, or physically closing yourself off can unintentionally signal that you don’t want to be approached—even if that’s not how you feel.
It’s not about forcing anything, but about being aware of how you’re coming across.
7
Conversations Take More Effort Than We Admit
One of the more overlooked challenges is how much is happening mentally during a conversation.
You’re listening, processing what’s being said, thinking about how to respond, and trying to stay engaged, all at the same time. In busy environments, that can feel overwhelming very quickly.
What helps is slowing things down. Keeping conversations in smaller groups, asking follow-up questions instead of jumping topics, and allowing pauses instead of rushing to respond can make a big difference.
It’s also completely okay to ask for clarification. If someone is using terminology you don’t understand, asking them to explain it more simply doesn’t make you look less capable, it actually leads to a better conversation.
8
Without a System, You’ll Forget Everything
Meeting people is one thing, remembering them is another.
At larger events, it’s easy to have multiple good conversations and then lose track of who said what. That’s where having a simple system becomes valuable.
This doesn’t have to be complicated. Even quick notes after each conversation can help:
- the person’s name
- what they do
- one or two specific details you talked about
Some people prefer using their phone, either typing notes or recording a quick voice memo to capture the moment while it’s still fresh.
The goal is to give yourself something to reference later so your follow-up feels intentional, not generic.
9
Follow Up Is Where Networking Actually Happens
The event itself is just the starting point.
What turns a conversation into a connection is what happens afterward. Following up – whether through LinkedIn, Instagram or email – and referencing something specific you talked about makes the interaction memorable.
It shows that you were paying attention and that you value the connection beyond the initial conversation.
Even a simple message that reflects the interaction can go a long way in building something more meaningful.
10
Your Energy Shapes the Entire Experience
At the end of the day, how you feel at an event affects how others experience you.
If you’re tense, uncomfortable, or trying to force interactions, it’s noticeable. But when you feel grounded – even if you’re not the most outgoing person in the room – people respond to that.
Creating that sense of ease comes back to everything we talked about:
- preparing properly
- managing your environment
- setting realistic expectations
When those pieces are in place, it becomes much easier to actually enjoy parts of the experience.
A Simple Framework to Make This Easier
If you prefer having something structured to rely on, we’ve put together a networking cheat sheet that covers:
- How to start conversations
- What to say when you’re unsure
- How to keep conversations flowing
- How to end the conversation without being awkward
It’s designed to take the guesswork out of these situations and give you something practical to fall back on.
Final Thought
Networking doesn’t have to look like being the most outgoing or talking to the most people.
It can be slower, more intentional, and more aligned with how you naturally operate. And in many cases, that’s what leads to better conversations and stronger connections.
You don’t need to change who you are to make networking work.
You just need a way of doing it that works for you.