Here's how you can navigate networking as an introverted professional in Lean Manufacturing.

A tranquilidade e confiança necessárias para conduzir qualquer atividade profissional vem de muito preparo e aprendizado, por isso busque se informar sobre o público que estará presente, os temas que serão abordados e possíveis questionamentos. O apoio e a colaboração de outras pessoas poderá também contribuir neste momento de condução das atividades previstas.

Start with the basic: Why are you attending one such event? This will help you out to define what you want to see and who you want to meet. Is it to meet and get some insight from similar industries as yours? Is it to get more general knowledge? Prepare accordingly and try to keep the insider lingo to a minimum.

To handle networking as an introverted professional in Lean Manufacturing, focus on smaller settings where you're more comfortable. Look for chances like team meetings or small group chats where you can have real conversations. Prepare some questions or topics ahead of time to keep the conversation flowing and show what you know. Also, use social media to connect with industry folks and join smaller groups where you can chat and share ideas. By sticking to smaller settings and focusing on quality connections, you can navigate networking in Lean Manufacturing even as an introvert.

As a typical engineer, I also have an introverted personality. One way I started to overcome this was by traveling with our sales team to larger customers, where I could present the Lean Manufacturing actions we were taking to improve quality and responsiveness. Being part of a team allowed me to rely on the salesperson to help with any awkwardness I felt. Over time, this experience helped me build confidence in presenting materials. This gradual exposure not only improved my presentation skills but also helped me navigate networking events more comfortably. Focusing on smaller settings and leveraging the support of colleagues can be a great way for introverts in Lean Manufacturing to enhance their networking abilities.

Your experience and your network's experience is a highly valuable source of insight. Base your conversations on experience, rather than theoretical o academic content, after all we can all read the same books, but not all can implement the whole range of Lean tools in the same way.

I think this is a great point, but it's important not to use technology as an excuse to avoid face-to-face networking. Technology can be a valuable tool for initial connections, such as joining online forums, participating in webinars, or connecting on LinkedIn. However, these virtual interactions should serve as a bridge to in-person meetings. For example, you can use online platforms to network, meet someone, and then attend events together. This approach allows you to benefit from the comfort of initial online interactions while still gaining the invaluable experience of face-to-face networking, which is crucial for building strong, lasting professional relationships.