1. Connect with the other person - In any networking function we may meet a range of people. When you are talking to one person really connect with them. Don't think of who else you might want to meet in the room. Be present in your conversation and listen. Watch for the sticky factor and continue to move on when the time is appropriate.
2. Be genuinely interested – be curious. Ask them questions. Listen – remember people like to talk about themselves so develop a short list of questions (I’ll be focusing on this in a future blog post)
3. Be clear on what you want to get out of the networking experience – Why are you going? Is this the right group? What is going to be worth your investment? Whether business owners are building their business or people are looking for a new role, it can be very easy to quickly fill up your schedule with lots of things to do and meetings to attend. The more you explore the clearer you may become with where your time is best spent.
4. Follow up – Quickly follow up with those you connected with the next 48 hours of meeting. Exchange email, business cards (v cards) and/or social media accounts.
5. Spend a few minutes after each networking event reflecting on:
What worked well?
Who did you meet and connect with?
What value was there in attending?
What would you do differently next time?
Expanding our network is a key part of business success today and a lot of professionals can feel very uncomfortable with this. relationship building is a skill set which takes time and practice to develop. if you are working with a coach or being supported by a mentor, this may be a good area to explore in a future conversation.
Best wishes,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
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