In my company we have branches across Western Canada. a few times a year the project managers and senior management get together for meetings. It is out of town for most of us so everyone is usually in a hotel.
After the meetings they often schedule a casual evening event or everyone breaks off into smaller groups and heads to the pub. There a few individuals who always head back to their room and either skip the event or just show up to eat and leave.
In our work we often share resources between branches as well as clients who work in different areas.
I can say for a certainty that most people are more willing to introduce their client to someone they have an existing relationship with. The guys who don't socialize are going to be at a disadvantage for both new clients and resources.
If someone I have spent a bunch of time getting to know calls me on a Saturday and asks me to go into the office to line up a crew for him to borrow or find an old plan I am usually happy to help. The guy I have only seen sitting in the back at meetings will not have that same pull.
I often have to call in favours as well to get a last minute crew driving across the province to help cover an emergency with a client. If I can't lean on other branches to get that done I will look bad to my client and it could affect my future workload.
In the end you need teamwork and cooperation to succeed and that happens a lot easier if there is an relationship that isn't purely professional.
Someone who is introverted and avoids socializing will have a harder time getting ahead if they don't find their own way to build relationships. I am certain it can be done, but you might have to put in some extra work to make it happen.
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