3 Must Do’s For Better Networking

October 2nd, 2009 by admin No CommentsNo Comments

A great article brought to you by Will Corrente on networking courtesy of my friend and colleague Pam Cournoyer. This is great advice whether you are trying to increase your personal development, entrepreneur development, or learning the skills to become a better communicator.

The other day I was pressure washing my driveway and when offered a respite, I refused because I was enjoying seeing the instantaneous results of my driveway changing before my eyes from Oregon moss green to almost bright grey. Networking does not usually offer this kind of result every time you talk with someone unless you have a successful strategy.

I’ll define networking as the act of attending an event that requires mixing, mingling, and meeting, greeting, schmoozing and smiling. You may seriously enjoy networking, yet, are you seeing a great return on your investment into this highly capricious scene?

If you are not getting enough return to make it worthwhile financially, then maybe you are interested in learning 3 powerful tips to improve your networking advantage?

Research indicates that only .0025%, that is 1 out of 40,000 people actually enjoy walking into a room full of strangers and initiating a conversation. Do you feel better now?

Nathan Keyfitz, professor of sociology at Harvard states it very plainly; “Personal culture will be of even greater importance for economic success in the future. The most successful people will be those who can communicate and connect better than their peers.” If he is correct, which his position obviously reflects, (wink), then it is time to find a way to communicate and connect better than your peers, don’t you agree?

Developing social skills is one of the best ways to learn this necessary art as well as build and broadcast your personal brand.

The vision of a good networking session is to see and hear the room buzzing with awe and respect about YOU. If people aren’t talking about you (in a good way), you are not newsworthy and if you are not newsworthy, you are not interesting and if you are not interesting, then you are not really a great connector. Think about stretching a bit.

A few ways to get awe without respect:

• Drink too much or dance too wildly
• Dress too casually or provocatively
• Talk too much, push your own agenda too much
• Glue yourself to one person the whole time
• Push your business card into someone’s hand without them asking for it

Each of these actions are remembered and will get the room buzzing; although I’m not sure this is the personal brand you want to build.

What are the 3 Must Do’s for Better Networking?

1. MUST PUT ON YOUR FUN HAT
While no single event is guaranteed to change your life, any single event could. Aren’t we all drawn to those who are laughing, listening and enjoying themselves? We are also drawn to those who approach us. Be sure too, to wear a smile that will disarm the devil himself – it will get the buzz going; everyone loves a genuine smile!

2. MUST TARGET YOUR MARKET
What are you after? Whom do you want to meet? What do you know about them? How can you contribute to them? Do your homework, target your “target market” to meet at this event, you will be impressed and naturally filled with awe and respect for yourself in talking to the people that you can help.

3. MUST BE “PRESENT” TO WIN
You are not present if you are talking to a potential client while checking your phone, scanning the room for “better” prospects, or getting straight to what you do without checking in for the need of the other person.

I’ve listed some strategies that will get people asking for your card:
• Focus all your attention on that single person to whom you are speaking
• Make friendly eye contact
• Generously listen
• Add attentive body language (lean into them, process what they are saying, not what your response is going to be)
• Give them the sense that you have been genuinely waiting all week to meet them.

You will be giving them a wonderful gift, the gift of your complete attention – he or she will truly have awe and respect for you and will tell someone else how great you really are.

Attend your next networking event deliberately, with intention and with purpose. It just might be an entirely different experience to get the room buzzing about YOU!

MAY YOU ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WITH CLASS!

My best to you,
Pamela
pamela@communicatewithclass.com
www.communicatewithclass.com

Filed under: Career Advice, Personal Development, Self Help, entrepreneur assistance, small business consulting

3 Must Do’s For Better Networking

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