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In a recent blog, I deep dived into how to network when you are shy. A part of this is understanding your mindset, so I wanted to give 5 simple ways to reframe your mindset when you feel like opting out.
Networking events and meetings are ubiquitous when it comes to the business world. Some meetups are sporadic and others are formal and occur weekly or monthly.
There are days when you simply aren’t feeling it. You’d either rather stay in bed, curled up under the duvet if it’s early morning or drive on home after work and turn on your favourite Netflix series.
But if you’re anything like me and you’ve registered for an event, or it’s in your diary, maintaining your commitment is important to you.
There are some simple things you can do to get you in the right frame of mind. Here are somethings that I do to get myself ready to smash it!
Listen to Music That Makes You Want to Dance
If you are driving to the event or networking meeting, listen to some of your favourite tunes on spotify. Upbeat music, something that makes your feet tap, your head bop and generally makes your eyes light up and makes you smile, before you even realise it.
Don Your Cape
Go into the bathroom, stand tall, hands on hips, imagine you have a cape on – do this for two minutes and your confidence will rise. Sounds silly I know, but I’ve tried it and it works.
Podcasts
Or listen to a podcast that you love. Invigorating and positive podcasts, regardless of topic, can make you feel really gung-ho and positive, so they help with your state of mind. Personally I find the ones I listen to motivating and energising, so they put me in a good mood. I really read to take on the world.
Spritz Yourself
A spray of perfume or aftershave can give you a real lift. My Mum used to tell me the story of her great aunt who used to put on perfume before getting her picture taken. Now this is back at the turn of the 20th century. We used to laugh about it, but as I got older, I understood. That spray of perfume boosts your confidence. It just makes you put your shoulders back and feel good about yourself.
Think Positively
Think positively. Visualise a successful event. Visualise yourself chatting amiably to others in the room. If you go in with a ‘can do’ attitude, chances are that it will turn out to be a positive experience. When you walk into a room, your body language and demeanour send off signals as to whether you are approachable or not. So remember to smile.
And here’s the clincher for me. Nearly every time I’ve wanted to not go to an event or meeting, I’ve met someone really interesting. learned something fantastic and left the event, thankful for having attended. I’ve left motivated and energised. Particularly at the start of the day, it gets you off to a great start!
What tips do you have for reframing your mindset?
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