Whether it's approaching strangers at a networking event, picking up the phone to a contact you haven't spoken to for a long time or asking for help and admitting you need it, confidence is an important part of networking effectively.
Together with some masters of the topic, I'd like to offer you five strategies to boost your confidence:
ONE: Understand what you want and communicate it If you know why you are doing something and you are clear about the importance of the outcomes, it is more likely that you'll take the steps you need, despite your nervousness.
If you are attending networking events to meet new people then remind yourself why a stronger network will take you closer to your career or business objectives and focus on what you need to do to develop that network. Set goals for how many strangers you need to befriend during that event.
Publicise your goals as well to make it harder to back out. I prevaricated over doing a stand up comedy gig for about four years because the idea scared me. Once I committed to doing one I did so in a very public way to make it harder for me to back out.
TWO: Open up to other people Many people struggle to share their vulnerability or low confidence with other people. But doing so, particularly with those close to us, strengthens relationships and provides solutions.
Peter Roper, my co-author of '. ..and Death Came Third!' and co-author of the new book ' The Reputation Game' told me, "Several years ago I lost my business and had to start again -it was a tough time, most of all because it affected my previously unshakeable confidence. "I got it back through two key sets of people: my family and my close business friends. They believed in me far more than I did myself at that time and it was their confidence that gave me the strength to get things on the go again. "In short look to your family and friends because they will always pull you through when you need that extra bit of help."
THREE: Invest in your image Paul McGee, the author of ' Self-Confidence' says, "When you look good, you feel good. People do judge a book by its cover, so dress by design and don't leave your image and the impact you make to chance."
Make sure that your image is congruent with the image you're trying to portray. If you work in the creative industry or in a manual job people don't necessarily expect to see you in a suit, so don't dress differently to how people will see you elsewhere.
Be consistent in how you present yourself but also be smart and well groomed.
FOUR: Positive thinking Sitting on the shoulder of every unconfident person is a nagging 'inner voice' telling them why they shouldn't take risks and why everything will go wrong.
Nobody ever succeeded purely by listening to their inner voice telling them why things won't work out. For every inner voice telling you not to do something respond with 'what if it does?'
Picture what success will look like and picture the impact that will have on your life, your career and your business. Sure, there's every reason to listen to inner voices warning you of dangers but make sure that you counter them with a positive 'what if' and then make a balanced decision.
After all, in many cases where your self-confidence lets you down, what might have happened if you'd taken the plunge? And what was the worst that could have happened if things had gone wrong? FIVE: Take the initiative
"Increase your confidence in your and other people's eyes in networking situations by being proactive as most people are passive, waiting for others like you to come to them. Approaching people you don't know sets you apart as someone more confident and even more competent as you're doing something they feel they can't do. This elevates you in their mind and this knowledge helps boost your confidence." | 
I've come across a couple of new resources recently which I feel the social media curious among you may find of interest. 
