Few things in business life can be as nightmarish as the prospect of networking. The inability to break into any meaningful conversation about what you offer or simply the sheer exhaustion of being professional and personable to so many people can have you heading for the door never to return.
Yet many jobs are never advertised and the power of personally connecting or being referred by an influential contact raises the possibility of being considered for a promotion or a new role. Successful networking can mean increased business or job opportunities, a database of contacts and at the very least precious professional and personal support.
There are some simple techniques which can turn a networking event into a meaningful opportunity.
Learn to listen. Learn about how you could possibly help that person, what their business requirements are and if you could connect that person with a strategic alliance.
Discern what their ideal type of client or business would be. This will help you to refer them on and encourages reciprocation.
Ask them what has changed in their industry over the past few years what are the challenges that they are currently facing - could you help them?
Keep it human. Don't appear desperate for business or work. Talk about hobbies, what your passion is, what makes you happy, why you enjoy what you do - find the common ground between you.
When you have exchanged business cards be sure to read them thoughtfully and respectfully, don't just shove them into your pocket. Then when you have a moment write a small note to self on the back about the person so when you email them later that day or the next you can remember who they were and make the email personal.
Be generous and offer to give away some of your expertise over an informal coffee in the future. If that's what you give away, they'll start to imagine what a committed business relationship with you could bring them.
And finally remember that a huge proportion of your communication is non-verbal and people will make judgments about you based largely upon your appearance. So focus on the image you wish to project and consider the impact your clothes will have on the outcome you wish to create. You will never have that first time contact again.
Yet many jobs are never advertised and the power of personally connecting or being referred by an influential contact raises the possibility of being considered for a promotion or a new role. Successful networking can mean increased business or job opportunities, a database of contacts and at the very least precious professional and personal support.
There are some simple techniques which can turn a networking event into a meaningful opportunity.
Learn to listen. Learn about how you could possibly help that person, what their business requirements are and if you could connect that person with a strategic alliance.
Discern what their ideal type of client or business would be. This will help you to refer them on and encourages reciprocation.
Ask them what has changed in their industry over the past few years what are the challenges that they are currently facing - could you help them?
Keep it human. Don't appear desperate for business or work. Talk about hobbies, what your passion is, what makes you happy, why you enjoy what you do - find the common ground between you.
When you have exchanged business cards be sure to read them thoughtfully and respectfully, don't just shove them into your pocket. Then when you have a moment write a small note to self on the back about the person so when you email them later that day or the next you can remember who they were and make the email personal.
Be generous and offer to give away some of your expertise over an informal coffee in the future. If that's what you give away, they'll start to imagine what a committed business relationship with you could bring them.
And finally remember that a huge proportion of your communication is non-verbal and people will make judgments about you based largely upon your appearance. So focus on the image you wish to project and consider the impact your clothes will have on the outcome you wish to create. You will never have that first time contact again.
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