Ever walked into a networking event and suddenly forgotten how to talk to people?

You're confident in your work, you solve complex problems and you know your stuff. But put you in a room full of strangers with no agenda and suddenly your mind goes, “What do I do now?”

If that sounds familiar, this is for you…

In this week's newsletter, I look at why networking can feel so awkward and how to move from forced small talk to genuine connection.

Turns out you don't need better opening lines or a personality transplant. 

You just need the right ingredients.

Ever been in a conversation while simultaneously having another more anxious one in your head?

Asking yourself, did I make sense? Why did I say it like that? Do they look bored?

That split focus can quietly pull you out of the conversation and make things awkward quickly.

I’ve written a short blog about why this happens, what damaging effect self-monitoring has on your communication, and how to bring yourself back to the person in front of you to connect better and leave happier.