How to Network with Confidence at Events (Without Feeling Awkward)
- Rachelle Mandziak
- Apr 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 28
Let’s be honest, most people walk into networking events feeling slightly on edge.
Not because they don’t know what to say…But because their nervous system is reading the room as uncertain.
Your brain is wired for safety.
New people = unknown = potential risk.
So what happens?
You:
Stay close to who you know
Scroll your phone
Wait for someone to talk to you
This is passive networking.
But the people who actually build powerful networks? They take small, intentional actions that signal safety back to their brain.
This is where confidence comes from.
Not personality. Not extroversion. Just simple, repeatable behaviour.
The shift is simple:👉 Stop networking passively. Start networking intentionally.
Here’s how.
Set a Clear Purpose Before You Walk In
If you don’t define your purpose, your brain will default to avoidance.
Instead, get specific:
Define your purpose
What do you actually want from this event?
Meet new people
Find potential clients
Learn from others in your industry
👉 Why it matters: Clarity reduces anxiety. When your brain knows the objective, it stops scanning for threat.
Identify key connections
If there’s an attendee list, use it. If not, stay aware of who’s in the room.
People in roles you’re curious about
Industries you want to move toward
👉 Why it matters: You stop trying to meet everyone and start focusing on the right people.
Set target outcomes
Make your goal measurable:
Meet 2–3 new people
Exchange contact info with 1–2
Book 1 follow-up
👉 Why it matters: Small, defined wins create momentum quickly.
Prepare a few questions
You don’t need a script, just a starting point:
Avoid starting with "So...What do you do?"
Ask: “What brought you here?”
Ask: "Have you been to this event before?”
Ask: "Have you been to this location before?"
Ask: “Do you know the host?”
Ask: “What brought you here tonight?”
👉 Why it matters: Removes pressure in the moment so you’re not overthinking. You’re not “networking”, You’re just having a conversation.
Measure success after
When you leave, ask:
Did I take action?
Who do I follow up with?
What felt easier than expected?
👉 Why it matters: Reflection builds confidence for the next event.
2. Make It Easy to Share Your Contact Info
This is where most people drop the ball.
You have a great conversation…And then nothing happens after.
Skip the printed business cards. They are so 2024.
Why business cards don’t really work anymore
They end up:
Forgotten in a pocket
Lost in a bag
In a pile at home
…and never get used.
What to do instead
Keep it simple and instant:
“Are you on LinkedIn?”
“Let’s connect quickly”
Pull up your profile or QR code
👉 Why it matters: If it’s not saved right away, it’s gone.
Make it frictionless
The easier it is to share, the more likely it turns into something.
That’s the whole shift:
Going from collecting contacts to actually keeping them.
✅ (And honestly, this is exactly why tools like the OUR Network App exist, so you can connect instantly & don’t lose people after the event.)
3. Have a Simple Way to Introduce Yourself
Practice your pitch.
This helps you feel more confident in selling yourself.
Practice it:
At home
Out loud
In front of a mirror
The goal isn’t to sound perfect. It’s to sound comfortable.
Give people something to respond to
Most people say:
“I’m Jason, I work in sales.”
And the conversation dies there.
Instead, add one more layer:
✅ Name + what you do + what you’re working on
Examples:
“I’m Jason, I work in sales at a SaaS company, and right now I’m helping startups improve their onboarding.”
“I run a creative agency, we work with service-based businesses on their websites, and lately we’ve been doing a lot in the wellness space.”
“I’m in marketing, and I’ve been getting really into brand strategy and content lately.”
👉 Why this works: That last detail gives the other person something to ask about.
No pressure. No perfect script. Just enough to keep the conversation going.
5. Focus on Being Curious (Not Impressive)
Most people are stuck in their head thinking:
“What should I say next?”
Shift it to:“What can I learn about this person?”
Simple follow-ups that work:
“Thats' so interesting, how did you get into that?”
“What are you working on right now?”
“How long have you been doing that for?”
OR ask about the types of clients they may work with or location of their services..
👉 Why this works:
People remember how you made them feel.
Not how polished you sounded.
6. Use the 5-Minute Rule
This is how you calm your nervous system in real time.
The rule:
Start one conversation within the first 5 minutes.
That’s it.
Make it easier on yourself
Your first interaction doesn’t need to be impressive—it just needs to happen.
Start small:
Say hi to the doorman
Chat with the check-in team
Ask a simple question when you arrive
Or:👉 As you enter, pick one person and start a conversation right away
Don’t wait. Don’t circle.
What to avoid
Don’t:
Linger by the bar
Hover near the food table
Stand in the corner on your phone
That’s your brain trying to stay safe.
Why this works (this is the key)
When you walk into a room full of unfamiliar people, your nervous system reads it as uncertain.
Uncertainty = potential threat.
So your brain goes:
“We’re not safe. Stay small.”
The moment you start one interaction, you send a new signal:“We’re okay. Nothing bad happened.”
Your nervous system settles.Your body relaxes.Your brain stops scanning for danger.
The shift:
You’re not trying to be confident.
You’re training your brain that this environment is safe
And once that happens, everything feels easier.
7. Pay Attention to Your Body Language
You are communicating before you even say a word.
People are not just listening to you.
They are reading you.
What to focus on:
Eye contact - scan the room
Open and tall posture
A natural smile but don't look creepy
Stay off your phone
What most people do without realizing it:
They look around the room instead of at people.
They cross their arms.
They stand on their phone as a buffer.
That quietly signals, “Do not come talk to me.”
👉 Why this matters:
Your body is sending signals before you speak.
Open body language tells people, “You can come talk to me.”
Closed body language tells people, “Stay away.”
And people decide this in seconds.
8. Exit Conversations Without It Being Weird
You do not need to stay in every conversation.
Networking is not about one long conversation. It is about a few good ones.
Simple ways to wrap it up
If you have not exchanged contact info yet:
“It was so nice meeting you. Before I go, do you want to connect on LinkedIn?”
“I have really enjoyed this. We should stay in touch, what is the best way to reach you?”
“I am glad we connected. Let’s exchange info quickly before I go say hi to a few more people. If you have already exchanged contact info:
“It was so nice meeting you. I am going to go meet a few more people, but I will follow up with you this week.”
“I am really glad we connected. I will send you a message after this.”
“This was great. I am going to keep making my way around, but I will follow up with you.”
What most people do:
They stay too long because they feel awkward leaving.
Or they leave without saying anything and it feels abrupt.
Why this matters
A clean exit keeps your energy up.
It leaves a better impression.
It gives you space to meet more people.
Confidence is not staying. It is knowing when to move on.
👉 Why this works
You are closing the conversation and creating a next step at the same time.
That is what most people miss. They either leave without exchanging info, or they exchange it and never follow up.
This keeps both clean and intentional.
9. Take Quick Notes. Future you will thank you
You think you will remember the people you meet.
You will not.
After a few conversations, it all blends together.
After each conversation, note:
Their name
What they do
One thing you talked about
What most people do
They rely on memory.
Then the next day it is, “Who was that again?”
👉 Why this matters
Details are what make your follow up feel real.
Without them, your message feels generic.
With them, it feels intentional.
10. Follow Up Within 24 Hours
This is where networking actually happens.
Not at the event. After it.
Keep it simple, but make it intentional
A good follow up should:
Mention where you met
Reference something specific you talked about
Create a clear next step
Examples that actually work
Simple follow up:
"Hi Alex,
It was great meeting you at the event yesterday. I really enjoyed hearing about the work you are doing with your team.Would love to stay in touch."
Follow up with next step: "Hi Alex, It was great meeting you at the event yesterday. I really enjoyed hearing about your work with the merchandising team and upcoming launches.
If you are open to it, I would love to continue the conversation over coffee sometime this month.
Would any of these times work for you?
Tuesday morning
Thursday afternoon
Friday late morning"
Follow up with added value: Hi Alex, It was great meeting you at the event. I really enjoyed our conversation about retail expansion and store experience.
I came across an article on retail trends that made me think of our chat, sharing it here in case you find it interesting.
Would love to stay in touch or continue the conversation sometime.
👉 Why this matters
Most people either:
Do not follow up
Or send something generic
This is what separates you.
A thoughtful follow up:
Makes you memorable
Builds trust
Turns a quick conversation into a real relationship
You do not need to be perfect at networking.
You just need to take action.
One conversation.
One follow up.
One connection at a time.
Do that consistently, and everything changes.
You can do everything right at an event.
Show up. Start conversations. Meet great people.
And still lose the connection after.
Because the hardest part is not meeting people.
It is remembering them, organizing them, and actually following up.
That is what we are building.
A simple way to connect in person, keep track of who you met, add notes while it is fresh, and follow up without overthinking it later.
If that sounds like something you have needed,join the waitlist and get early access.
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