Simon Hall writes...
I’m not convinced that anyone likes networking events.
I don’t, and everyone I’ve asked so far doesn’t.
So, if you believe that completely unscientific straw poll, the result is conclusive!
However, at some point, and sometimes uncomfortably often, we all get pitched into networking events.
So, how to make them work for you?
Happily, there’s a simple trick to help.
The only problem is that it involves a radical shift of mindset.
Think about this for a moment:
How do you tend to go into a networking event?
If you're like me it’s a deep breath, plunge into the room, and work your way into a series of conversations.
You'll have a brief pitch in mind to tell people what you do, and why they should be interested in you.
Your plan is to work the room for as long as the event lasts, or as long as you can bear it...
Talking to as many people as possible, handing out as many business cards as you can manage.
In other words, you are very much on transmit mode.
Now turn that around.
What happens if you go into a networking event on receive mode?
Instead of talking, talking, talking about yourself, yourself, yourself…
You ask questions of the people you meet, and genuinely show an interest in them.
Who are they going to remember?
That endless line of faceless people who bombarded them with information until they felt dizzy…
Or the one they shared a genuine conversation with?
And further…
And more importantly…
Who might they feel more inclined to work with in the future?
I’m not saying you don’t need to tell people about yourself and what you do at a networking event.
Of course you have to pass that information on, and hand out the obligatory business cards.
It's the whole point of the exercise.
But! And this is the key:
Having real conversations, establishing some common ground, and perhaps even a rapport…
Can be far more effective than just talking about me, me, me and then some more me.
