Making networking, work.

Being a business owner requires you to wear different hats, of which, the most important is, the networking hat.

Meeting people that will take your business forward is a never-ending task, especially if you are trying to get your feet off the ground.

Consistently acquiring new business is tough and, if you have recently flown the nest, leaving the comfort of the 9-5, or that guaranteed monthly payslip you likely have in place a formidable networking habit, or not.

It is probably most tricky if you are staying in the same field, but going solo doesn’t mean you can’t eat. Don’t give up though. Following these 7 great conversation starters will certainly put you on good stead, especially if you are a hip-new-to-the-scene start-up with limited connections and experience or a networking first-timer.

Research shows you have seven seconds to impress. So, you had better make sure you make the right one!

Building your introduction is tricky. Of course, once you’ve done it, you will be on track to carrying the conversation forward-to-end, establishing a decent conversation.

“If you want to build your network and gain valuable relationships, you’re going to have to break the ice”, says Michael O’Connor, a PR expert.

A great sign of you being alert and understanding the direction of the conversation is if you can build a great conversation from just small talk.

Small talk is key. It’s like flicking through the telly, until you find the right channel. So your questions need to be short, succinct and your approach needs to be: If I am going to ask [x] a question, it needs to be easily answered. So, choose a wise intro-question needs to be strategic.

Here are seven tips to get you started

7) Meet them with excitement and warmth, a smile and decent eye contact. Try this, “Hi, quick question, where is [x, y, or z]?”

Ask a question that can easily be answered for you. In fact, asking a simple question disarms [x], and actually starts the conversation. The beauty of short questions like the one above, is that, once you have asked it, you are now ‘in’. Keep going from there.

6) Don’t walk up to a group and ask, “so where are you from/where do you work?” because the group just won’t know who you have just addressed. Be smart, ask that question when you have got them one-to-one.

5) Complement them. People love praise and complementing their sense of clothing style, jewellery or something visible by saying, “I love that [x] where did you get it?” is an easy way of getting them to drop their guard. All you have to do now is follow up and watch them glow.

4) If this is a stand-up dinner and they are holding a drink or food on a plate, ask them, “where did you get that? It looks great!”

3) An even easier intro-question is to ask them what the ‘best’ part of ‘their’ day was? Carefully choosing who to ask this question is key, if someone looks happy and cheerful, they a most probably likely to share that information or reason why.

2) “What brought you here today?” sets the facts straight. They are probably here to make new contacts, so are you.

1) Speak to everyone as if you knew nothing and they knew everything. Everyone is an expert on their own self. Ask them about themselves.

Put the phone away, right in front of them

This a risky move. The beauty of putting your phone away is a complementary gesture of respect and, with the advent of technology, it is vital you show courtesy to the person you are engaging with. In fact, this move is particularly strategic, because if the conversation doesn’t flow, it, has the added benefit of being in your left inner-pocket (if you are wearing a suit).

Others like TEDx speaker and research scholar, Celeste Headlee, argue that “there is no reason to show you are paying attention, if you [in fact] paying attention.” Yes, the psychology is simple. Putting the phone away allows you to focus and pay attention, however, the act itself makes the person you are talking to – feel important.

Simply put, networking is the art of being a conversationalist. And true conversationalists know that a good handshake, eye-contact, smiling and making the person feel like they have your utmost attention is all part of the networking arena

Putting your phone away, is one way, to do just that.

Practising is vital

As with any skill, The Devil’s Advocate summarises what you need to do perfectly - PRACTISE – and you will raise your game.

For more information, or for expert advice on business or personal legal issues, contact us online at Carter Bond Solicitors or call us on 020 3475 6751.

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