There may not be extensive scientific studies on the topic, but several theories and observations suggest that people at networking events can be categorised into certain types based on their networking behaviours.
Here are some common personality types observed in business networking:
- The Networker: These individuals are highly extroverted, outgoing, and love meeting new people. They are skilled at building rapport and maintaining relationships.
- The Loner: While not necessarily introverted, loners prefer to work independently and may feel uncomfortable in large group settings. They may be more selective about who they network with and focus on building deeper relationships with a few key contacts.
- The Socialiser: Socialisers enjoy the social aspect of networking events and are often seen talking to multiple people at once. They may not be as focused on building long-term relationships as ‘The Networker’, but they’re good at making connections and gathering information.
- The User: Users attend networking events with a specific goal in mind, such as finding new clients or partners. They may be more direct and less interested in building relationships for the sake of it.
- The Relationship Builder: Relationship builders are focused on building long-term relationships based on trust and mutual benefit. They’re often more selective about who they network with and prioritise quality over quantity.
And of course, as you would expect, these are just generalisations and people can exhibit characteristics of multiple types. Also, individual personalities can vary depending on the specific networking situation.
But being aware of these different personality type ‘generalisations’ can be helpful in your networking. It can help you adapt your approach and build more effective relationships. Also it can help you consider yourself and what types you might be associated with, and whether you can make any changes or make better use of your current networking style.
There may be other types you could classify as well, but ultimately the most important thing is to be yourself and authentic. People can sense inauthenticity, so just be genuine and sincere in your approach, whatever your style or motivations might be.
