Networking Exercise & How I Prepare to Network. A Guide.

Often I am told that networking is too hard or I not good at networking. Why accept failure and defeat yourself? Today that all ends. You can overcome your fear of networking by developing a few simple tools to have prepared before the networking event.

1. Elevator Pitch: Telling who you are, what you do, how you are successful/value proposition and a fun fact about yourself.  Be personable and Relax. Think of 2-3 strengths you have and can talk about. 

2.    Have a weakness or two on tap in case the conversation turns that way.

 Having planned the pitch and being prepared with a few talking points before arrival will reduce nervousness.  Here is an exercise that I use with my students that has helped bridge gaps and presented subject matter experts in specific fields.  This exercise is an approach that has been adopted by hearing what others have tried in the past and multiple discussions with networking coaches from around LinkedIn.

  Networking Exercise

All members of the class were given 4 sticky notes. One orange sticky note and 3 yellow. 

 A.   On the orange, the student wrote 1 professional weakness (Microsoft PowerPoint/Prezi/Public Speaking). I collected the yellow sticky notes and place them on the board in a horizontal line on the whiteboard or wall.  

 B.   After the yellow notes were in the line, on the orange notes students wrote a professional strength. Then when they were done, students found a weakness and placed their strength in a vertical line below the yellow notes.  

 C.   We are finding help, subject matter experts, and putting a face to skills. After all the strengths were placed under a weakness, I came up to the board and read aloud some of the weaknesses. 

 D.   I then asked HOW networking affects your job? Life? How does a weak network impact your employee? Then I frame the network size, Is your network weak in your work center, organization, or is it weak across the industry? Why?  

E.   150 +responses centered around; I just don’t like to talk, I have been taught how to network, I am afraid to talk to people I do not know.  

 Next, I ask students to imagine how much more impact you can have as a leader by leveraging the connection power that a strong network gives you. 

 After the questions and notes have been placed.  I started a timer, which the students did not see. Then had everyone get up to the board.  I explained students will find whom their strengths are helping and who has the skills they need.  We connect faces to skills and then give students a talking point, so they can begin talking to everyone in the room.  Observations show that having talking points drives more conversation and reduces anxiety.  Groups of 4-5 tend to form first, I will remind them of someone new and learn about their skills.  Next, we will break the groups up to push outside of the comfortable area.  I will repeat this step until everyone has spoken to everyone in the room.  During our six weeks course, we can use these skills later. For shorter, I would adjust the skills to meet your needs. 

 For personal introductions, I have a slide that asks for specifics, name, position, current role and responsibilities, personal goals, education level.  Instead of standing up and answering the questions. WHICH IS BORING, want someone to not talk to you again, bore them in a short period of time. That first impression will last, be interesting.  I tell them to give us an elevator pitch and think about these points before they begin.

1.  Imagine they are standing in front of the Vice President or the CEO and they have one minute to tell us about them and their job.  Make us want to know more about you.  This is a great spot to consider what your brand message is.  Does your message come across as a reflection of what people expect from you or is it way off?  Why?  

 I will have a designee take a photo of the board to reference later. The photo is shared and everyone knows who to specifically reference when they need a consult for a project. Also, they have now started a small network list. 

What are your thoughts on the approach?

The approach for networking at events changes depending on the setting. Be yourself and have your elevator pitch ready. 

 Go make some new connections and share a networking story to inspire others.