3 Must Do's For Better Networking
Monday, March 1st 2010 @ 10:21 AM
The other day I was pressure washing my driveway and when offered a respite, I refused because I was enjoying seeing the instantaneous results of my driveway changing before my eyes from Oregon moss green to almost bright grey. Networking does not usually offer this kind of result every time you talk with someone unless you have a successful strategy.
I’ll define networking as the act of attending an event that requires mixing, mingling, and meeting, greeting, schmoozing and smiling. You may enjoy networking, yet, are you seeing a great return on your investment into this highly capricious scene?
If you are not getting enough return to make it worthwhile, then maybe you are interested in learning 3 powerful tips to improve your networking advantage?
Research indicates that only .0025%, that is 1 out of 40,000 people actually enjoy walking into a room full of strangers and initiating a conversation. Do you feel better now?
Nathan Keyfitz, professor of sociology at Harvard states it very plainly; "Personal culture will be of even greater importance for economic success in the future. The most successful people will be those who can communicate and connect better than their peers." If he is correct, which his position obviously reflects, (wink), then it is time to find a way to communicate and connect better than your peers, don’t you agree?
Developing social skills is one of the best ways to learn this necessary art as well as build and broadcast your personal brand.
The vision of a good networking session is to see and hear the room buzzing with awe and respect about YOU. If people aren’t talking about you (in a good way), you are not newsworthy and if you are not newsworthy, you are not interesting and if you are not interesting, then you are not really connecting. Think about stretching a bit.
A few ways to get awe without respect:
• Drink too much or dance too wildly
• Dress too casually or provocatively
• Talk too much, or push your own agenda
• Glue yourself to one person the entire time
• Push your business card into someone’s hand without them asking for it
Each of these actions are remembered and will get the room buzzing; although I’m not sure this is the personal brand you want to build.
What are the 3 Must Do’s for Better Networking?
1. MUST PUT ON YOUR FUN HAT
While no single event is guaranteed to change your life, any single event could. Aren’t we all drawn to those who are laughing, listening and enjoying themselves? We are also drawn to those who approach us. Be sure too, to wear a smile that will disarm the devil himself – it will get the buzz going; everyone loves a genuine smile!
2. MUST TARGET YOUR MARKET
What are you after? Whom do you want to meet? What do you know about them? How can you contribute to them? Do your homework, target your market to meet at this event, you will be filled with awe and respect for yourself in talking to the people that you can help.
3. MUST BE “PRESENT” TO WIN
You are not present if you are talking to a potential client while checking your phone, scanning the room for “better” prospects, or getting straight to what you do without checking in for the need of the other person.
I’ve listed some strategies that will get people asking for your card:
• Focus all your attention on that single person to whom you are speaking
• Make friendly eye contact
• Generously listen
• Add attentive body language (lean into them, process what they are saying without preparing your response - your response will come - try it)
• Give them the sense that you have been genuinely waiting all week to meet them.
Give them the gift of your complete attention – he or she will be compelled to tell someone else how great you are.
Attend your next networking event deliberately, with intention and with purpose. It just might be a profitable experience to get the room buzzing about YOU!
