How do you keep networking when you’re burnt out?

Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, this is a valid question. It can be exceedingly difficult to network and socialize well and with any degree of enjoyment when we are physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. And let’s face it, many of us are!

Here are three strategies that can help:

1. Make self-care a priority. Getting a massage or taking a vacation or sabbatical are certainly great options. So are getting enough sleep, exercising, enjoying some fresh air, participating in activities you find energizing, and consuming a healthy diet. This last one isn’t just about food, by the way. It’s also about what you consume in the media and on social media. So much of it is negative and toxic!
2. Discover and address your “energy leakage” areas. These can include having conversations that don’t need to happen or can be minimized; dealing with people who are chronic “Drainers & Downers;” and engaging in activities and habits that are unnecessary, exhausting, or harmful to your well-being. Believe it or not, this can include being alone too much, which the Surgeon General is now calling a health crisis because of its life-shortening effects.
3. Build and polish your conversation skills. Awkward conversations do not have to be the norm in networking situations. Usually when they do occur, it’s because one or more participants are lacking in social skills or have had little practice using them. By taking charge of your socialization savvy (which is ultimately your responsibility), you’ll go into social and networking situations with more ease and confidence. You’ll know how to begin, broaden, deepen, manage, and even graciously shift and exit conversations appropriately.

Have you read my new book More Than Just Talk: The Essential Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Enjoy Better Conversations? If not, it’s the perfect resource for you no matter where you see yourself on the conversation confidence scale. It’s available on Amazon and via other online retailers as well as at BookPeople in downtown Austin, Texas.  Grab yourself a copy today!