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Probably the hardest part when you start networking (once you’ve actually bitten the bullet and forced yourself to turn up to the event!) is walking in and finding someone to talk to. This month we’ll look at ways to make your arrival less daunting.
The easiest way to try out networking is to go along with someone you know, preferably someone who already knows a number of people they can introduce you to. Or you could arrange to meet an associate there, so there is a familiar face in the crowd. If you are arriving alone, as you enter, ask the person greeting arrivals to introduce you to someone, either somebody you specifically want to meet or someone from a particular industry. Always remember that no matter how confident people look, in fact they are just as nervous as you, or have been in the past. Don’t feel you have to say something brilliant or witty to start the conversation! A comment about your journey or the weather will start the ball rolling, or you could ask whether they have attended the event before. Never feel you can’t approach someone – that is precisely why they are there and they may be missing a great opportunity if you don’t connect. Probably the hardest thing is when you are suddenly left on your own on the verges of the gathering and everyone else is chatting away in two’s and three’s. Take a deep breath and immediately join a group – a threesome is better, as one of them is probably feeling less involved than the others. Do keep sending us your stories about networking. Next time we’ll look at tricks to keep you moving on so you don’t get stuck with one person! Back to Newsletter Archive page |
