You're leading a team through a networking event. What mistakes should you steer clear of?

When leading a team through a networking event, avoid going in unprepared. Not having a clear plan can lead to missed opportunities and disorganized interactions. Also, don't dominate conversations; encourage your team to engage and connect. Another mistake is failing to follow up networking doesn't end at the event.

When attending a networking event with your company, avoid these frequent pitfalls: Being Self-Involved: Put mutual benefit above self-interest. Build good connections by listening, engaging, and encouraging reciprocity. Focussing Only On Those Who Can Advance Your Initiatives: Serve people first by asking how you might help them connect with someone. Strengthen ties to form long-lasting connections. Being A 'Networking All-Star': Quality above quantity—get to know a few individuals and keep in touch afterwards. Viewing Contact Information Exchange as Success: Beyond providing information, consider shared interests for future collaboration. Neglecting Follow-Up: Act quickly to develop ties after the event.

Attending networking events provides you with the opportunity to meet other professionals.The first thing you and your team members should consider when attending a networking event is to have a clear understanding of the objectives. Research the event and the participants and set achievable goals.

N?o preparar sua equipe para um evento de networking é um erro grave. Cada membro deve entender claramente seus objetivos, como quem encontrar e que tipo de conex?es buscar. A prepara??o inclui pesquisar os participantes, praticar discursos de elevador e estabelecer metas de networking. Sem isso, sua equipe pode perder oportunidades valiosas e passar uma impress?o pouco profissional.

Lack of Preparation: Avoid going in without clear goals or an understanding of key attendees to connect with. Sticking Together: Encourage team members to mingle rather than staying in a tight group, which limits networking opportunities. Monopolizing Conversations: Ensure team members don't dominate discussions; encourage them to listen and engage meaningfully. Forgetting Follow-Ups: Don’t neglect to follow up with contacts made during the event, missing potential opportunities. Ignoring Body Language: Teach your team to be mindful of non-verbal cues, avoiding closed-off or disengaged postures. Neglecting Business Cards: Ensure the team has business cards and exchanges them appropriately to maintain connections.

Introduce yourself effectively! Prepare an abstract to introduce yourself. The introduction should include something unique about you and your team such as your experience or education. Describe your relevant experience. Share a common interest or connection.

Greet people and switch from guest to host. Begin conversations by discussing shared interests related to the event's theme. Try to make the networking conversation more meaningful. Help others to join the conversation. Ask open ended questions and actively listen to other people’s perspectives.

When leading a team through a networking event, steer clear of mistakes like dominating conversations, failing to introduce team members and neglecting to set clear goals or expectations. Avoid getting too caught up in personal conversations, missing opportunities to connect with key contacts. Don't overlook the chance to actively listen, ask insightful questions and gather valuable insights. Refrain from being too pushy or aggressive in promoting your own interests, prioritizing relationships over self-promotion. By being mindful of these pitfalls, you'll effectively leverage the event to build meaningful connections, foster teamwork and drive business outcomes.