I spent around 40 years in television and radio, presenting sport, hosting programs and interviewing thousands of people. You'd think walking into a room full of strangers would be easy for me. It wasn't. Put me at a business function with a drink in my hand and no camera to hide behind, and I was still the kid who didn't want to get out of the car. I'd hover near the door, check my phone, and count the minutes until I could leave without being rude. If that sounds familiar, you're not broken and you're not alone. You're probably an introvert, and nobody ever gave you a plan.

Most networking advice is written by extroverts, for extroverts. "Just go up and introduce yourself!" "Work the room!" For an introvert, that advice doesn't just feel uncomfortable, it feels like being asked to become someone else. And that's where the exhaustion comes from. We put on a mask, play a confident person for two hours, then go home completely drained. What I eventually realised is that confidence isn't a personality. It's a skill. You don't need to become more outgoing. You need a few simple moves you can rely on, so you're not making it up on the spot.

Here's one you can use at your very next event. Don't try to join the big, loud group in the middle of the room. Look for the person standing on their own, because they're probably feeling exactly what you're feeling. Walk over and say something simple about where you both are: "I don't know a soul here. How about you?" That's it. It's honest, it takes the pressure off you both, and nine times out of ten you'll see their shoulders drop with relief. One genuine conversation is worth more than twenty business cards, and it's a much better use of an introvert's energy.

That's the thinking behind Unmasked, a short course I created for people who dread networking events. It's 18 bite-sized lessons, each under two minutes, with audio versions you can listen to in the car on the way there. It covers how to start a conversation, what to say when you don't know anyone, and how to leave a conversation without feeling awkward. If you'd like to start with something free, I've put together a short training that walks you through the first steps. Watch the free Unmasked training here → You don't have to become someone you're not. You just need to know what to do when you walk in.