Networking

I find networking  to be a dreadful yet necessary part of business life. Spending an evening in a room full of strangers is not my preferred social experience, yet spending an evening in a room full of strangers is one of the quickest and best ways to expand my sphere of contacts and start relationships that can blossom.

These feelings, I know, are not unique to me. Here are some networking tips I have picked up that have helped me, and maybe they will be of use to you.

• Before attending an event, set a goal for yourself. I sometimes will have an objective to meet three new people who will agree on having a follow-up meeting.
• Take lots of business cards with you.
• Prepare an elevator speech you can recite with enthusiasm in 30 seconds or less.
• Wear a name tag that stands out. Often an event will supply a name tag but your name is so small that a person has to be on top of you to read it, or blank name tags are provided with markers for self-made tags. A better idea is to have your own designed name tag that clearly tells who you are.
• Wear the name tag on the right side. The tendency among us right-handed folks is to pin the tag on the left lapel. The problem is that when shaking hands the name tag is not in the sight line of the person you have just met. Pinning the tag to the right lapel puts it directly in the sight line.
• Be early to the event so you can help welcome people as they come in.
• Don’t spend much time with folks you already know unless you are introducing someone to them or they are introducing someone to you. You already know them, and your goal is to reach out to new people.
• Hang around the food table to meet people, but don’t fill your hands with food and drink so you are free to shake hands.
• Find someone standing alone – break the ice by commenting on the event.
• Introduce yourself and show interest in the other person. Get him or her talking. Learn as much as you can about the person, and eventually you’ll get your chance to give your elevator speech and talk about yourself. If there is sufficient common ground, exchange business cards and suggest a follow-up meeting.
• When you find common interest between two people you have met, introduce them to each other.
• After a few minutes excuse yourself and find someone else to talk to.