Introverted Managers Still Need to Network

Most introverts hate networking. I do. My default is to stick with people I already know and focus on what feels like "real work."

It's easy to convince myself the rest is politics. Or a waste of time. Or that my career is fine without it.

But here's the thing: this isn't about your career anymore.

When you become a manager, your priorities have to shift. The most important career to manage is no longer your own—it's your team's. And a manager with no network is a manager with limited reach.

Think about what a well-connected manager can actually do for their people. They can find the right person to unblock a project. They can get their team's work seen by the leaders who matter. They can open doors when someone's ready for their next move.

None of that happens if you only know your direct reports and your boss.

I still find this uncomfortable. Reaching out to leaders I don't work with closely feels awkward. Making small talk at company events isn't my idea of fun.

But I've seen what happens when I do it anyway. My team gets opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise.

So I force myself. Not because I enjoy it. Because it's part of the job. The part that doesn't show up in any job description, but probably should.

If you manage people and your instinct is to keep your head down, that instinct isn't serving your team.