Attending a networking event can be unnerving, even for seasoned networkers. While it is not the most enjoyable experience for most people, networking is important for not only growing your business but also your personal professional network. In addition, networking allows you to refine interpersonal skills which will help you in all aspects of your life.
Attending networking events doesn’t have to be painful! The process can be easier if you follow these easy tips.
Bring a Friend
This is for you introverts out there. Does the thought of entering a networking event solo give you hives? Bring a buddy along. Find someone in your office or industry to tagalong if that makes you feel more comfortable. Although you can only do this if you vow to actually network. With other people. Attending a networking event is not very effective if you only network with people that you already know. Make it a plan to spend the first 5-10 minutes together and then head out on your own. You can check in with each other throughout the event but be careful not to pair off in the corner.
Be Prepared
The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be. Familiarize yourself with the location, ask for a list of attendees so you can do research in advance, practice your elevator pitch, get your business cards ready. Murphy’s Law is real so anything that you can take care of in advance, do so. You don’t want to create unnecessary nerves by showing up late or misplacing your business cards.
Have a Plan
It’s best to have a plan in mind for each networking event that you attend. Know who you would like to connect with before you attend. You should also set some goals for each networking event. You can set a goal for how many people you introduce yourself to, how many business cards you hand out, or how many follow up meetings/calls you set. This not only helps to keep you focused but it can make the event more interesting.
Be Flexible
While it is important to have a game plan, an important part of that plan should be to remain flexible. Sometimes the people you want to connect with don’t show up. That just opens the door for you to meet other people that you wouldn’t have otherwise meet. Go with the flow and keep an open mind.
Don’t Be Rude
Trust me, you don’t want to be that person that ditches a conversation because someone “more important” walks by. We have all been there, you are talking to someone and the other person keeps looking around looking for their next connection. Don’t make that mistake with other people. Be genuinely interested in the conversation that you are in. If you do need to excuse yourself, do so respectfully and discreetly. You never know, the person you are blowing off today could become the “more important” person tomorrow.
Talk Less, Ask More
As Dale Carnegie put it, “you can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you”. Human beings like to talk about themselves. It’s our nature. Want people to remember you? Try telling them as little as you can about yourself and allow them to talk about themselves. Added bonus, you will learn more when you stop talking and start listening. It’s a win-win situation!
Focus on Helping Others
So often, we focus on what we plan on getting from attending networking events. Flip that and focus on what you can give others. Ask each person you talk with about who their target customer and think of people you could introduce them to. You can also offer up any expertise that you may have to help them grow their business. This will not only help you build stronger connections but they in turn will be looking out for you as well. People always remember people that help them.
Follow Through Quickly
Have a system in place to make sure that you follow through on referrals or connections quickly. The worst thing you can do is form a great connection and not follow up as you said you would. You instantly lose credibility. You also want to send a quick email or LinkedIn message to anyone that you formed a good connection with. I always try to follow up the same day or no longer than 24 hours.
Everyone is Nervous
If you are feeling nervous, know that everyone feels the same way. Most people don’t find walking up to complete strangers to introduce themselves very appealing. Knowing that people are in the same boat as you can help ease some jitters. If you at the event and still feeling nervous, look for someone that might be in the same boat as you. Go chat up the person standing alone in the corner or sitting alone at a table. I’ve had some of my best networking experiences when I force myself to step out of my comfort zone. You got this!
We would love to hear from you. What are your tips for networking? How have you handled networking jitters?
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