How to network
How to Network
1. Arrive early
Arriving on time sends a message that you are disciplined, organized and respectful to others and the event organisers. In addition, I find that arriving at a partially empty room is easier than arriving in a full room. When you arrive early, you are forced to meet the few others, of whom, arrived early, too.
When you arrive late, then the whole room may be full and it can be more awkward to walk up to someone at random and introduce yourself. Plus, they could have already met someone from your industry and built up a rapport and decided to buy off them instead of you. Remember the saying: “The early bird catches the worm.”
2. Turn off your phone
Everyone knows you’re a busy person and leaving mid-conversation is just bad manners! This also shows you cannot manage your time effectively. Worse case, put your phone on silent and never answer it when you’re having a conversation.
3. Have a positive attitude
The first, and most important, step is to have a positive attitude going into any networking session, happy hour, cocktail party or conference. If you aren’t thrilled about coming to the event, then you might as well not go, because showing up without a positive attitude will send a message to everyone else that you are not interested in them and/or doing business with them. Be supportive of others. Bring someone else into a conversation if it’s relevant to them. This shows others you care and have a warm, friendly personality. Never turn your back on someone mid-conversation. As my mother told me growing up: “Manners cost nothing!”
4. Dress appropriately for the occasion
Antonio Centeno has written a wonderful overview of how to dress appropriately for a networking event over at the Art of Manliness.
Wearing the right attire to a networking event cannot be understated, as people will be making snap judgments about you.
You should also be sensitive to the industry you work in, and that your attire is appropriate. People dress more casually in the entertainment and advertising industries and more formally in the financial services industry.
5. Should I bring business cards?
This is a little interesting question. Personally, I would bring around ten with me but not a big stack, like in the old days. Remember: it’s about saving the planet now. And we’re in 2022 (the advent of technology has moved on).
I also recommend putting your business cards somewhere easily accessible before walking into the event, so that you don’t have to dig around your wallet or purse in order to fish out a card.
I also recommend Opening a new note to add information about someone you’ve met. keeping a scrap of paper or a small notebook with you so that you can jot down someone’s contact information, could also be useful. if they do, heaven forbid, fail to bring business cards. Do not rely on them to email you as I’ve found most people who forget to bring a business card will also forget to email you a follow-up with their contact information (even if they promise they will email you – they won’t).
6. Do Research in Advance
One great tip is to research the people whom you may meet at the event well before you arrive. Find out if the event you are going to publishes a list of attendees in advance. If there is an advance list, you can identify people who are coming and whom you want to speak with at the event. Services like Evite.com and eventbrite.com often publish attendee lists.
In her book Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future (affiliate link), author Dorie Clark profiles one successful executive who ‘stalked the biographies’ of people he admired. These days, websites like LinkedIn make it very easy to research people’s career histories. Given how accessible information is online these days, I think you are more likely to commit a faux pas by not knowing details about someone’s background than you are to commit a foul by knowing details about them.
In fact, not doing research in advance can even be embarrassing. I went to a small dinner in San Francisco recently where I ended up sitting next to the wife of a famous author of a book about entrepreneurship. This book had been on my ‘must-read’ list for months. The dinner conversation inevitably turned to the husband’s book and I could only sit there, helpless, like I was stuck on mute. I had nothing to contribute. (I also didn’t want to admit I hadn’t read the book yet.)
If I had done research in advance, I might have known this woman would be there and been more prepared by having read the book.
7. Avoid the Buffet
Few things are less attractive than a person talking with a mouth full of food. If you must eat, keep it clean and neat and do not open your mouth while eating. Try to eat quickly.
If you can avoid the hors d’oeuvres table, then you should. Most networking events are short – between 1 to 2 hours. Any time spent at the buffet is going to be a wasted opportunity. You are literally leaving money on the table. Think of it this way: those cheese and crackers are not really free? They are actually costing you money in terms of lost business and opportunities. You may never meet the same person again.
8. Look People in the Eye and Shake Hands
Studies have shown that people who look others in the eye are naturally perceived as being more powerful, warm, personable, and attractive. I am always perplexed when I meet someone and their eye contact is fleeting or distracted. By contrast, when I meet someone who makes solid eye contact, I immediately have a feeling that this person is warm and engaging.
On a related note, it is also important to have a firm and strong handshake (not a vice-like grip, though). When you are meeting people, extend your hand and grip as you mean it. Gauge the other person’s handshake. Remember: You’re not in the gym trying to impress others with how strong you are.
9. Set a Goal for the Event
I have met several politicians in the past. They who would attack networking mixers with the ferocity of a Pitbull. Although politicians get a bad rap most of the time (often deserved), there is a reason why they do this — because it is effective.
If I told you that you could make more money in your career by really embracing networking events, would you take these events more seriously? I’m betting the answer is yes.
I find that the best way to teach yourself how to network at an event effectively is to set a solid goal for each event. Your goal could be the number of people you speak to, or number of business cards collected, or a number for follow-up appointments scheduled. Whatever your goal is, just make sure you set a goal and follow through with it.
10. Go Home Happy
After a face-to-face networking event, you should walk away with a bit of a skip in your step from the people you’ve met and relationships you’ve already started to develop. If you go away from a networking event and don’t feel excited about it, then maybe you are going to the wrong kinds of networking events and/or haven’t set clear goals for your career or business.
The bottom line is you should find a networking event, get out there, and meet some people.
A few additional tips:
– If you go to a networking event with your friend then leave them when you arrive; otherwise, you will spend the whole event talking to them. Believe me, I have been there and done that. GET out of your comfort zone and MINGLE!
– Say what you mean and mean what you say. Always follow up via telephone/email within one working day. If possible, agree on a meeting time before you leave a conversation.
– If you’re in a conversation with someone and want to leave. Wait until the person has finished speaking (between 5-10 minutes is enough). If you say you’re going to the ladies’/gentleman’s room. Go there, don’t start another conversation with someone else. This is just plain rude!
CREDIT:
smartbusinessrevolution.com
eventstant.com/8-easy-steps-network-events-like-pro