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I AM EDITOR: Networking for Introverts: Real-World Advice from Self-Professed Introverted Professionals

This article is based on a session organized and moderated by Caitlyn Trautwein at the ISMTE North American Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, in July 2024.

Published onDec 12, 2024
I AM EDITOR: Networking for Introverts: Real-World Advice from Self-Professed Introverted Professionals
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Meghan McDevitt, Origin Editorial

Brook Simpson, Origin Editorial

Why should we care about networking when perhaps our preference as introverts is to hide in a corner or completely avoid any such social interaction? Professional development and networking opportunities create connections that can be crucial for career progression and growth. In this article we discuss tips for navigating events and harnessing our strengths as introverts to build a professional community and create lasting connections.

Why is networking critical to the development of one’s career?

A professional network is important because many of us work alone or in small teams, often remotely. Having a professional community to reach out to when you have a question or want to know how someone else handled a situation can be helpful. Most likely, someone else has dealt with something similar or can guide you to resources, which makes the situation seem more manageable. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time something new comes up.   

Meeting colleagues in-person, especially after many years of virtual-only events, can be especially exciting. It is a great opportunity to put names to faces and expand the connection through informal conversation and shared interests that go beyond simply connecting with someone on LinkedIn. Rather than feeling exhausted and drained, in-person networking experiences can leave you more supported, inspired, and refreshed (even for introverts, we promise).

Finally, expanding your professional network and deepening relationships with colleagues makes your day-to-day work feel not so isolating. Many people involved with ISMTE and other peer organizations in the industry share that they finally found a community with others who “get it” and who understand the ins and outs of the work. The importance of creating and nurturing a professional home has many benefits; it’s not only to develop your career, but also to support your own well-being.

What are your tips for not running out of energy during a networking event like a conference?

At the ISMTE North American Conference, Caitlyn Trautwein talked about the spoon theory. Briefly, it’s a theory that you start your day with a certain number of spoons, and each spoon represents how much energy you have as you're facing your day. Every activity or chore or interaction that you participate in throughout that day costs you a spoon. It takes a different number of spoons for each person to get through the day, depending on their personality and just how they exist in the world, and some people start with more spoons than others.

As an example, a conversation with a new person might cost an introvert four spoons but maybe only one spoon for an extrovert. We all exist with our own little energy bank, and certain interactions might cost more for you than it does for somebody else. At the end of the day, we have to make sure that we're taking care of ourselves and protecting our spoons as we need to.

Building in that downtime for yourself, if needed, such as physically leaving the space and going to your room where you can sit quietly for a few minutes can make a huge difference. And you don’t need an excuse to do this! Many of us may feel pressured to attend every session and networking break, and especially for those earlier in their career, there can be pressure to make the conference “count.” But there is nothing wrong with establishing a boundary and setting aside some downtime to reflect or just not be around so many people for a little bit.

Tips for networking at large social events

If you’re anything like the authors of this article, walking into a large reception event may be high on your list of professional-related activities that instill a sense of dread and anxiety. Over the years, we’ve learned a few tips to help make these large networking opportunities a bit less daunting.

Be strategic.

  1. Find someone else that is alone and strike up a conversation. Chances are this person would appreciate a friendly face and the opportunity to make a connection, and approaching one person instead of a group that is already deep into a conversation may feel less intimidating. Lines for buffets or drinks are also great for a quick chat.

  2. Have some basic questions in your back pocket for moments where you may find yourself in a conversation with someone new. Asking about their work and the event that has brought you together is usually a safe place to start.

  3. Review the conference program and attendee list. Are there any session speakers that you’re looking forward to, or did you hear someone speak and you enjoyed their discussion? Make a note to seek them out and share your positive feedback.

  4. Consider pairing up with an extroverted colleague or attendee that you already know and have them help you network! Be honest about your concern; there’s no shame in asking for support.

Be reasonable.

Don’t expect yourself to attend every event and make connections with new people constantly. Set a reasonable goal for yourself – e.g., I’m going to attend the opening reception for at least 20 minutes and try to talk to at least one person I don’t know. I’m going to skip the next night’s reception and treat myself to some quiet time alone. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is admirable, but you don’t want to go too far and end up feeling overwhelmed.

When is it time to move on from a conversation and how do you wrap up that discussion?

A great way to conclude a discussion on a high note is to offer an option to connect with someone beyond the current conversation. For example, offer to exchange business cards or connect on LinkedIn. Even just getting their email address and following up with them after the conference is a great way to maintain and grow those connections.

Sometimes the conversation wraps up naturally or you can use the conference agenda as a stopping point. For example, when a break is ending or a session is starting, those are useful transition points to close the conversation politely and move on. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Following up after an event or conference is another important step. If you’ve had a really great conversation or made a good connection that you want to maintain, reaching out afterward is an excellent way to build on that interaction.

In-person versus virtual networking: are all forms created equal?

The authors have found both forms of networking to be valid and useful, although they may require different tactics to be successful. ISMTE, being an international organization, is unique in that you can meet and connect with people from around the world, and it’s so easy to do that virtually. The scholarly publishing industry as a whole is very international, and it’s always interesting to learn what colleagues are doing in other areas. There’s also a case for better accessibility through virtual events—not everyone can travel to attend in-person conferences, so leveraging networking opportunities virtually is critical. And meeting someone for a virtual coffee over Zoom is free!

It is also important to take advantage of face-to-face networking opportunities, events, and conferences, if available to you. Attending an in-person event or conference provides crucial professional development and educational content, but it is much easier to have organic conversations with colleagues. Striking up a conversation with someone you sit next to at a session or chatting with folks in line for the lunch buffet are simple ways to make informal connections.

You may even consider a hybrid approach: sometimes reaching out via email, LinkedIn, or the conference app can feel more comfortable than trying to start a conversation in-person. The conference apps are especially good for getting conversations started and finding those points of commonality (cute pet photos, anyone?) to help break the ice.

How do you maintain connections once the conference is over?

If you’re networking at a conference or any other multi-day gathering, you may find yourself ready to put that in the rearview and focus on getting your inbox and/or life back in order once the meeting has concluded. As tempting as that may be, we encourage you to block out even a small amount of time to do a mental debrief with yourself once you’re back to your daily grind (or even better, on the plane or train ride back home!).

In addition to reviewing the takeaways that you gleaned from the event, think about the connections you made. Who do you need to send an invitation to connect with on LinkedIn? Who can you send a quick message to just to let them know that you enjoyed your discussion with them? Was there someone that you particularly enjoyed engaging with and you’d like to set up a time to chat with them again on Zoom? A little bit of outreach can go a long way!

Weeks or months later, remember those connections when you’re stuck on a work problem and would like a second opinion on how to tackle the next steps. If you read an interesting article about a topic from the meeting, or you see another conference or webinar that you’re interested in attending, share it with your connection. Scheduling a monthly recurring reminder to maintain your connections is a great way to keep this on your radar if you live or die by a to-do list!

What would you tell those early in their careers about networking?

Though we have been in this industry for many years, it is not hard to remember what it felt like as an early career professional walking into a networking event and feeling like a fish out of water. It can be incredibly intimidating to be in a room with many seasoned professionals and not know what to expect. In our experience, however, there is nothing to fear! Those of us working in editorial offices tend to be incredibly welcoming. It is one of the many reasons why we, the authors, take the time to volunteer and serve the broader community. Working with others in this industry is so rewarding, both professionally and personally, and that is due in large part to the fantastic people that you meet along the way.

If you’re just starting out and are worried about networking, we encourage you to embrace the fact that you’re early in your career and try to flip the thought that you don’t have anything to contribute on its head. Hearing from new voices in the industry is one of the most exciting parts of this community. Many early career professionals bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy that revitalizes group discussions and spurs innovative thinking.

Networking opportunities also extend beyond just editorial office colleagues. Perhaps you work with a Board of Editors on your journal(s), and you find yourself in a reception room at an annual meeting. How do you chat with someone who could be a revered expert in their field of study, but that field is one that you know little to nothing about (raise your hand if you majored in a humanities-based subject but you’re surrounded by science-based experts 🙋‍️)?

I (Brook) specifically recall walking into this scenario early in my career and wishing I could hide in a corner of the room, but what I quickly learned by watching others was that I shouldn’t be afraid to find other grounds of connection. Ask about their family, or if they have any pets. If you know they were recently away, ask about their travel. Don’t be so intimidated by their professional status that you forget that they are human too. You might be surprised to find that someone will jump at the chance to show off some photos of their new puppy! If you don’t want to delve into personal topics, consider asking them for feedback on your submission system or on your recent editorial report that you wouldn’t have a chance to discuss otherwise. Either way, take advantage of the opportunity to put a face to a name that they may only usually see in their inbox.

What would you like your extroverted colleagues to know about interacting with introverts in networking situations?

Brook shared a personal experience of walking into a large conference room and being told “okay go talk.” That is an example of a situation that is unhelpful and uncomfortable for an introvert. We encourage our more extroverted colleagues or those who have been in the industry for a long time to embrace a come-along-with-us attitude. Overall, we find the scholarly publishing community to be a welcoming place, but for introverts, early career professionals, or those new to the industry, it can be intimidating. A simple invitation to join a conversation or head out with a group for dinner can really make a difference in someone’s conference experience.

Although we have used terms like introvert and extrovert in this article, we do want to caution an overuse of labels. The authors have experienced feeling shame or guilt for being labeled—in a negative way—as introverted or shy (or Meghan’s personal favorite, quiet). We all have many personality traits that ebb and flow depending on the situation and the people we’re with, and we should work to support each other and all our human parts we bring to the table.

How do you challenge yourself to lead and take on new responsibilities and opportunities without burning yourself out?

The authors don’t have a foolproof answer but can offer some tips for navigating this balancing act. Scheduling your time and making sure you are saving space for the different areas that are important in your life can be helpful. Priorities shift and change over time, so it’s always good to reevaluate and make sure you are still contributing value and receiving value for your efforts.

Many people think that they need to have prior experience or background before getting involved as a volunteer, but that’s not typically true. Professional organizations in our industry are eager to have volunteer support, and joining a committee or task force is a great way to expand your network, gain new skills, and have a direct impact on the community. If you realize that it was not a good fit or your circumstances change, you are allowed to step away. It’s also completely acceptable to say “no,” and to remember that “no” is a complete sentence.     

How can conferences make networking/participating more accessible for introverts? 

The authors applaud the 2024 ISMTE North American Conference Planning Committee for being thoughtful about how they organized this year’s conference, which was well-received by attendees (and not just the introverted ones!). A few concrete examples from the ISMTE conference in Pittsburgh included longer breaks between sessions, fewer concurrent sessions, and more opportunities for informal networking and casual conversation. If you have ideas for what you want to see and experience at an upcoming conference, we encourage you to get involved and help shape these meetings. These industry meetings are organized in large part by groups of volunteers; you can play a role in helping to make these events feel supportive for everyone.

Takeaways

  • Networking is important, even if it feels like a necessary evil

  • Make networking work for you

  • Don't give in to the pressure to overdo it, but try to gently push yourself out of your comfort zone and see what happens

  • Be yourself — networking doesn't have to be purely business

  • Ask questions — if you don't feel like you have much to offer, learn

  • Find the other introverts to connect with; don't be afraid to ask for help from your extroverted colleagues

  • All forms of networking are valid, but don't limit yourself to just one or the other

  • Get involved

  • Being introverted isn't bad — it's just another way of being in the world

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