Are you the type of person who loves to socialize, attend big parties, and network whenever you get the chance? We often assume that those that are the most outgoing and those that exhibit many qualities of an extrovert make the best connectors because they are just naturally good at talking to others. What if I was here to tell you that assumption may be wrong? Here’s why.

Introverts that would be considered successful connectors often will not enter into a social situation without a plan. They will prepare for those they want to meet, have an idea of what they want to say, and think through how the social situation may play out. It turns out, a plan almost always produces better results than going into a networking event or another meeting by just “winging it.” To effectively connect with another person, it doesn’t matter whether you are introverted or extroverted; what matters is that you’ve spent some time thinking about which relationships are most vital and have a plan for reaching them effectively.

So, do introverts connect better than extroverts? Sometimes, yes. Probably the nation’s best known networking professional came to the realization that he is an introvert! Ivan Misner, PhD, founder of BNI and the author of 11 books on networking, shared with me in an interview I conducted for The Connectors that he discovered he’s actually an introvert. What? Misner said that his wife of 20 years told him during dinner one night that he displayed many introvert tendencies. Misner was shocked!

How could the founder of the largest networking organization be an introvert? “It struck me that’s why I started BNI,” Misner said. “I was naturally uncomfortable meeting new people. BNI created a system that enabled me to meet people in an organized, structured, networking environment that did not require that I actually … talk to strangers.”

Introverts and extroverts, if you really want to make networking successful, go into an event with a plan of action and I bet you will become a better connector