The Introvert's Guide to Networking (for Business)
About this video
Jeff, who describes himself as deeply introverted despite most people seeing him as an extrovert, shares three networking tips that work with an introvert’s nature rather than against it. First, add value from behind a computer screen: leave thoughtful comments on LinkedIn posts using a Yes-and structure, agreeing with the post and then building on it, most easily with a personal anecdote. He says he commented on three of one successful entrepreneur and YouTuber’s previous LinkedIn posts before they connected and chatted, and he shares Austin Belcak’s bank-account analogy: a thoughtful comment is like depositing $5 in the author’s virtual account, asking to connect withdraws $10, and asking for a phone call withdraws $50, so a positive balance makes agreement likely through reciprocity. Second, be laser focused on who you network with, because introverts lose energy around others. Identify the relevant decision makers for your goal — the recruiter and hiring manager for a job, performance review committee members for a promotion, the editor for publishing an article — then ask existing contacts for introductions and hold the one-on-one in a comfortable format such as a favorite coffee shop or a phone call. His example for an Amazon role uses advanced LinkedIn search to find second-degree recruiters and hiring managers, asks mutual first-degree connections to narrow the list, and ends with two to three meaningful conversations instead of trying to meet everyone. As a pro tip for offline events, recharge beforehand by avoiding socializing the day before. Third, stay consistent with achievable goals: he compares one thoughtful LinkedIn comment a week, or even a month, and one phone call or coffee chat with a relevant decision maker once a quarter, locked on both calendars, to doing 10 pushups a day rather than buying an expensive gym membership on January 1st, noting a large semi-annual networking event is a poor fit for introverts. He closes with a Simon Sinek quote that charisma comes from passion and dedication, not extroversion.
Key takeaways
- Network from behind a screen with Yes-and LinkedIn comments: agree with the post, then build on it, most easily by adding a personal anecdote.
- Build credit before asking: in Austin Belcak’s analogy a thoughtful comment deposits $5, a connection request withdraws $10, and a call request withdraws $50, so Jeff commented on three posts before connecting.
- Target only the decision makers tied to your goal, such as the recruiter and hiring manager for a job, and use mutual contacts to narrow outreach to two to three meaningful conversations.
- Protect your energy at in-person events by recharging the day before and choosing comfortable one-on-one formats like a coffee shop or phone call.
- Keep a small, sustainable cadence: one thoughtful comment a week or month and one decision-maker call or coffee chat per quarter, scheduled on both calendars.
Episode details: published December 9, 2020 · 7:03 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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