Summer is here and activities are abundant! Whether you are hiring for your team, looking for a new role, or happy where you are…..networking is always a good thing. Keep your options open and build your network both personally or professionally. If there is one thing I am great at, it’s NETWORKING! I love people and I love to connect people. Majority of people will find a job, meet a spouse or connect with a new friend though their network. Knowing your network and staying in touch is beneficial in so many ways. For those of you who are not as comfortable with it, here are some key tips from an article I recently on Forbes.com:
- Focus on your Audience: the most powerful way to build relationships is to learn about the other person. Do whatever homework you can to learn who’s going to be in the room, whether getting a guest list of specific names or just understanding the likely profiles, given the nature of the event. Then when you get there, ask questions, and actually listen to their answers. This realization is usually a gift for reluctant networkers, for whom it’s much easier to ask questions than talk about oneself.
- TACTIC: Use the cheesy, but effective and often chuckle-producing, line, “Hi, I’m Nell and I promised I’d meet three people tonight. You’re the first: what’s your name?” It’s a little goofy, shows vulnerability, and chances are good the other person was equally apprehensive about approaching you or anyone else.
- Set a Goal: remind yourself as you head to the event (or the URL in your browser) why you’re going. It could be as simple as meet 3 people in a different industry, or of a different generation. Or perhaps you’re looking to learn about a new topic. Whatever it is, remind yourself on the way in, and then check in whenever there’s a lull in the action to see how close you’re getting.
- TACTIC: Write down your goal, as simple as it may be, on your way to the event. Check in with your goal when there’s a lull in the action (consulting your notebook in a quiet corner can also serve as a respite from the chatter), and write down your progress toward the goal at the end of the evening. This event log will become a useful learning tool, as well as providing validation for your efforts.
- Bring the Energy: We’re neurologically wired as humans to mirror the energy and behaviors of the person in front of us. You’ve probably witnessed the contagion of yawns. The body language and tone that you present is what you’ll get back. No need to paste on a goofy ear-to-ear grin if that’s not you, but it’s worth erring on the side of a smile to get one back.
- TACTIC: Check out this quick Udemy tutorial for basic do’s and don’t’s to elicit a warmer response in a crowd.
- Know your Exit: Networking is a numbers game. You’re not going to click with every person you meet. Some people you meet just won’t have overlapping interests. For a variety of reasons, it’s important to have a well-practiced way to part ways so that you can effortlessly put it to use in that awkward moment when a conversation is clearly going nowhere.
- TACTIC: Develop an exit strategy you’re comfortable with. Excusing yourself to the restroom always works, as can the bar, though it works better if your glass is empty. Handing over a business card as you say, “It was great to meet you, I’ll let you continue to meet other folks,” can be a graceful close. You can also pick a scapegoat, and say, “I’m expecting a call from my babysitter / boss / friend / etc – I should check my phone.” Whatever you are able to say earnestly will work, so I do recommend having a go-to phrase that comes naturally.
The proof is well-established: teams made up of diverse backgrounds, in terms of demographics, academic training, and professional expertise, perform better. This is no less true for your personal network than an organizational team, so get out there and network to meet people beyond your immediate circle. It’s good for the world!