For some of us, the word networking can make us nervous.  Where do you start?  What do you say when you first meet someone?  How do you maintain a relationship?  There is an art and science to building relationships and networking.  First thing you should do is change your mindset.  Think positive.  Tell yourself that you can do this.  A belief can affect your behavior in such a way that your expectations become your reality.   If you do not feel confident, change your posture.  Keep your head high, shoulders back, and feet shoulder width apart.  Your emotions will begin to match your posture.

You cannot expect to just show up at an event, stand around, and expect people to just come up and talk to you.  You have to be proactive and start conversations.  Also be a good listener.  Don’t do all the talking.  Keep it natural, be yourself, and the rest will fall into place.  Don’t just socialize, make sure you engage meaningfully, remember people’s names, and make sure they remember yours.  If a conversation is not a good match, politely exit.  Be sure to talk about your accomplishments and skills, within reason, which is essential to do so if you are going to have an effective network.  You can network with anyone, anywhere.  You can join organizations to help build your relationships and connections and develop your networking skills.