Source: Tim Gard
Last week I attended the Hawaii Public Health Conference. As part of our MCH (Maternal & Child Health) LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) assignment, we were encouraged to utilize this networking opportunity and make establish new connections. I was terrified as networking involves initiating conversations with people (most often strangers), asking them questions and worst of all sharing information about myself.
While I generally don’t have any hesitancy to be transparent with people when someone initiate the conversation, I sorely lack the skills to initiate conversations. I have a few theories on why I feel this way:
- At 3’4″, my eye contact is commonly met at a person’s hip level (just imagine what else is in that region) and conversations while standing can be logistically a bit awkward.
- I’ve been raised to “not bother” people. I wait until spoken to and keep to myself until that occurs.I automatically feel guilty when I “interrupt” someone to engage in seemingly forced conversation.
- A sense of unworthiness has been looming through me as an adult student. I assume people aren’t interested in meeting me because I don’t have a lot to offer them in return. My perception of worth is often in alignment with my career and financial independence. At the moment, I don’t have an “official position” and I feel less than because I don’t have all of the things someone in their 30s “should have”.
Continue reading “The Fear of Networking: Social Awkwardness or a Lack of Compassion for Self?”
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