So, no job. Or you are scared to death as a new retiree because you don’t know where next to move. If you are an introvert, the pressure may be more intensified, since the fear of networking can be as frightening as job loss. Well, maybe not quite as scary as having no job, no but scary enough to render some of you ineffective and, perhaps immobile.

If you are like 25% of the population that is NOT energized by lots of contact with people, prefer the comfort of your own internal ideas and thoughts, and crave times to be alone for recharging your energy, you may be an introvert.. The reason is that about 75% of all positions filled in business are based on contacts and networking. If it has been distasteful to you all these years what are you going to do now?

Unfortunately, for many, networking is often incorrectly seen as a flurried-and-frenzied-sort-of-external-activity-requiring-an-enormous-amounts-of-energy-and-action-to-collect-a-zillion-names-and-contacts-for-the-purpose-of-getting-a-job . Whew! No wonder an introvert is scared. That definition alone would exhaust any sane human. “Networking makes me feel like I am begging for a job,” confesses a Senior Vice President of Human Resources in the chemicals industry in New Jersey.

The good news is, that the definition is wrong. Networking is not about ‘begging’ for a job or getting a job. It is the making and maintaining of human relationships, based on shared and similar interests for mutual benefit. It is NOT an end in itself, but a lifelong, never ending, ever-developing process that should be taking place every week, if not every day of your life. And, most important of all, it is a natural process. It’s also putting pieces together: your value and other’s nightmares: ferreting out the needs of others so you, as a walking, breathing, living solution, can help those with needs and nightmares.

We really network all the time. Take social networking for example, an introvert’s dream come true, no? And in other realms, we don’t realize that we are networking when we check out where and what the best deal is for a vacation, or what town to move to, or where to place our money. That’s networking as well. Networking is researching something that you care about, that’s important in some way, sharing ideas, opinions, (yours and theirs) so that you can ultimately make an informed decision and offer something back to someone else.

And here’s a wonderful piece of news. Networking is more about becoming an sponge with elephant ears. One of the best features about introverts is that they usually make very good listeners and think about what they see and what they hear. This is a critical aspect about networking and fostering good relationships. Introverts are way ahead of extroverts on that score.

Are there ways that you have found useful that you would like to share?

I will be posting suggestions in my next entry. Meanwhile, enjoy who you are, because no one else is qualified.