5 Networking Tips For People Who Hate Networking. By Melissa Cassera Sweaty palms, check.
Nervous flutters, check. Dry mouth, check. If you're feeling this way, I'm going to venture to guess you're attending a business networking event where you don't know a single person in the room and are now standing in the corner like a wilted flower hoping ...praying... that someone will take pity on you and strike up a conversation. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are a few fun tips and icebreakers to help ease your nerves before your next networking event - and ensure you get quality business connections out of it, too: 1. 2. 3. TIP: Look at the attendee list of the event beforehand. 4. 5.
Now it's your turn to take action. Melissa Cassera is a PR Expert and President of Cassera Communications, an award-winning PR consultancy that turns business owners into business celebrities. Don't Miss: Companies Hiring Now More From The YEC Looking for a job? More From Young Entrepreneur Council. Top tips for networking at conferences. Part of the reason we go to conferences is to meet other people.
Yet how often have you left the event feeling that you made few or no connections? Here are some top tips to help you get the most out of the networking opportunities: Pre-conference prep Have a plan. Know in advance whom you want to meet (directly or the type of people), which speakers you want to hear, and what exhibition stands you want to visit. Blog or tweet about the fact that you’re going. Set appointments in advance. During the conference Guide the conversations. What do you think about that session? The what-do-you-do question is bound to surface. Introduce others.
Talk to the people sitting next to you. It’s a bit like sitting next to someone new on a train or plane. And make sure to sit next to someone you don’t know yet. Ask questions of the speakers. Or if asking your question in front of everyone else seems too bold, see if you can find the speaker after the talk. Break times Put your technology away. Follow up. An Introvert's Guide to Networking. 7 Tips for Networking. 10 Tips for Successful Business Networking. Effective business networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship building, become walking, talking advertisements for one another.
Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections. Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest.
Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Hold volunteer positions in organizations. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. Become known as a powerful resource for others. Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. Related: 24 networking tips that actually work.
The idea of networking makes many people uncomfortable … or confused.
It’s easy to see why. When most people think about networking it seems insincere at best — and selfish at worst. This, of course, is the complete opposite of what networking is supposed to be — friendly, useful, and genuine. It’s easy for most of us to be friendly and useful with people we know. However, because networking is a “business activity” it’s easy to think that we need to act in a different way.
Unfortunately, most networking strategies come across as pushy, needy, or self-serving — even though the people using them rarely act that way in day-to-day life. Don’t worry, there are definitely genuine ways to self–promote. The real goal of networking.