What do you do if you want to maximize your networking potential at facilitation events?

Maximize your networking at events with these effective strategies. ?? ?? Before attending an event, research the attendees, identify key targets, and prepare a brief introduction about yourself and your goals. ?? Arriving early allows for relaxed, pre-event conversations, often when people are most open to making new contacts. ?? Move around and meet new people rather than staying in one spot. ? Show genuine interest in others by asking about their work and interests, as people enjoy discussing their experiences. ?? Engage in active listening—focus fully on the speaker to build rapport. ?? Share your knowledge and resources. ?? Genuine interactions are more likely to lead to meaningful connections than mere business card exchanges.

Failing to Plan = Planning to Fail. Plan for the networking event you are going to attend. Each networking event and platform is unique, and always require a different approach from you. Don't use a cookie-cutter technique to plan for all the networking events. Research the networking event you are going to attend, research on the theme, check up on the guest speakers and facilitators. Make a list of any previous events you have facilitated, write down what went well and what did not. Prepare your questions for faculty.

Keep a 120-second self-introduction handy for yourself Remember to put the focus on others at such events, keep atleast 3-5 questions handy which will require the other person to talk for more than 120 seconds and will give you good details about them. *Compliment on their name and ask what it means, but be genuine about it in your tone and body language. Listen actively. Use their name atleast twice in a 5-minute conversation. Do not forget to send a message within 24-36 hours after the event, I missed this on a first few networking events and paid quite dearly for it.

Prepping in advance helps, but the magic happens at the event itself. Don’t treat the new engagements as business sales. Be open to conversation and most importantly listen to the people you connect with to uncover how you could add value to the new found relationship.

Keep a genuine, warm smile on your face. Make sure your dress is well suited for the networking event, follow the dress-code guidelines, if any. Know how to make small talk. As an introvert I used to find it extremely difficult to to do this, but I keep a list of questions, (harmless yet effective) with me to guide me through, and I always make a small joke about myself within the first 60 seconds. :) It works.

After the event, follow up promptly with personalized messages to the people you connected with. Express gratitude for the conversation, mention something memorable from your discussion, and propose next steps for staying in touch. Keep it concise, genuine, and action-oriented to maintain momentum and nurture the relationship.