5 Tips to Network More Effectively in Group Settings

With the return of in-person events, there has never been a better time to brush up on your networking skills. But I know for some people, even the idea of networking can inspire feelings of dread. Between attempting to stand out from the crowd, balancing small talk with business talk, and discussing your skills and aspirations without sounding like you’re putting yourself on sale—networking events ask a lot from us.

Although, sometimes, all it takes is one conversation with the right person to find your next client or career opportunity. Like most things, networking only gets easier with a lot of practice and forethought.

And while overpreparing for social events can often backfire, I do believe there are a few things people should keep in mind as they prepare for their next networking event. Here are my five tips to network more effectively in group settings:

1. ?Don’t try to reach everyone. Going into a crowded networking event, if your goal is to talk to as many people as possible, you likely aren’t going to leave a lasting impression with most of them. Better to focus your time on fostering more in-depth conversations with key individuals than to continuously bounce around from one introduction to the next. That said, don’t be afraid to gracefully bow out of a drawn-out, go-nowhere conversation if you feel that your time could be better spent elsewhere. Everyone is there to meet new people, so no one should be offended when you are ready to politely move on to the next conversation.?
2. Develop your talking points ahead of time. Conversations at networking events should flow naturally. No one likes it when a person suddenly and forcefully changes the topic in a way to only serve their own interests. But you also don’t want a conversation to reach a dead-end before you’ve had the chance to make a good impression. Without sticking to a script, consider keeping a few relevant questions and unique conversation topics in your back pocket.
3. Read the room. Networking events can sometimes feel strange because they require a different set of social skills than we usually typically use. These events are not parties, and they are not job interviews, but I’m sure we have all seen plenty of people who treat them like both. You should always be able to recognize the purpose of the event, why you decided to attend, and how to best adapt to the general atmosphere of your surroundings. You don’t want to be the person who interrupts conversations and only talks about themselves, nor do you want to be the person who seems desperately eager to please. Even if you’re not entirely confident at the event, people will respond to you if you come across as genuine, comfortable, attentive, and enthusiastic.
4. Provide people with an easy way to follow up with you. One of the worst possible outcomes of a networking event goes as follows: (1) You introduce yourself to a major player in your industry. (2) You make a great first impression. (3) You engage in a long, productive conversation. (4) You never hear from the person again. These scenarios are, unfortunately, unavoidable at times. But that should never be due to you failing to provide the right contact information. Whether it be a business card, email address, website, or even LinkedIn profile, always make sure the people you meet at networking events walk away with an easy and accessible way to follow up with you.
5. Most importantly, don’t forget to be human. Even if your only goal at the events is to advance your career or grow your business, don’t forget that at the end of the day, networking events are social events. Many people at these events would rather not exclusively talk about work or their industry. Rather, they mostly want to get to know new people and build new connections. So, try to meet them on their level. If a new connection leads to a new opportunity, that’s great. But if you act as though that is the only reason you’re at the event, people will likely think you’re far from the most interesting or memorable person in the room.

What are some of your most effective go-to networking strategies? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.