Networking - The Storied Way

Imagine walking into a room.

It’s a room full of strangers.

It’s a Social Event.

A Business Event.

A Networking Meet-up.

A Conference.

You are there to find a spot for yourself, to be seen, heard & accepted.

You want to make connections, find an ally, an associate, an acquaintance, maybe to sell something?

How does that make you feel?

There are many kinds Networks that I am part of:

Storytellers

Entrepreneurs

Women Entrepreneurs

Visual Storytellers

Coaches & Trainers

Creators

Educators

Being part of multiple networks means, carrying a specific part of my identity to each of these spaces. Sometimes, I carry all of them, but reveal the others only when there is a need to.

The one thing that I ALWAYS carry, is my Story Bag. In my story bag there are pockets for Stories of Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Coaching & Training, Stories for Children, Adults & Businesses, and tons of lived experiences, Small Stories and Personal Stories gathered over a period of time. Each story is neatly wrapped and kept safe in a specific pocket in my story bag.

I carry all of them.

That way, I have something credible to share when in a conversation. Carrying them all helps me have colourful conversations with people. For example, I have shared my experience of storytelling in a kindergarten to participants in a business storytelling workshop when talking about duration, suspense and open ended stories. It always helps to carry more stories than you need!

Networking events are different though. I may walk in with an agenda (for example to find someone to collaborate with), or just be there to listen (I do that a lot), or leave something for someone / everyone to remember me with me (I also do that)!

So what are the stories do you carry at a Networking event?

Let’s talk about Networking, The Storied Way

Before you pack your story bag for a networking event, identify the following 3 things:

Intent

Identify your purpose of networking. Do you want to reconnect with peers, find new people to connect to, sell your new product / idea, or do you want to be seen? You could go in with any ONE intention, a mix of them or all, if you like.

A clarity of your Intent helps you speak up and prioritise that which you are looking for.

Mindset

Humans love to been seen. Likewise, we also like to hide. A networking event may seem intimidating for a lot of us, but, it is a necessary evil if you attach it your business / professional goals. Before setting foot in a networking space, re-engineer your mind to be seen and see. To not hog the limelight and speak up. To be patient and observant. To sit / stand where you can be seen and heard. And a place where you can see and hear well.

Design

Spend a moment to craft your strategy. Do you want to infuse new ideas, learn from others or create new possibilities. Just like your intent, designing your strategy will make you sure of what you want to say. If the event is anchored on a key topic, gather your thoughts, your perspectives, your stories on the topic and carry them with you.

Storytelling Strategies for any Networking Event:

1. “Who am I” Story

By far, the most important story for everyone’s Story Bag! You need to answer this with a story. Who are you?

Why do you what you do?

Who needs you?

Your “Who am I?” story is a clear message that you are aware of yourself. By crafting a story, you are in a position to generate interest and lead a conversation. Remember to tell it with a sense of ownership, pride and humility!

2) What am I Here For?

What brings you to the networking event? Share your Intent and Design with anyone you talk to. It really helps to tell people what you need. Craft your story on the lines of, “I am a Behavioural Scientist. I am currently exploring the many ways organisations build culture. I am here to speak to professionals and leaders about what creates motivation in the workplace?” Keep a set of questions ready. Don’t ask them all to everyone, you may want to ask a couple and see where the conversation is going.

3) Stay Curious! Ask for a Story

When you are out, ask for a story. Ask your acquaintance about the circumstances that brought them to this juncture of their lives. Wait for them to tell their story. Ask them the question, “What do you need? How can I help?” be the seeker and the giver, you will see the virtue of how that pans out in the rest of the conversation.

4) Listen & Add to the Narrative

When listening to speakers, panel discussions, you may feel the urge to add a perspective (at least you should, if you have re-engineered your mindset)! Take a moment to listen to the different voices, weave in the perspective already shared and then raise your hand to add a new dimension. If your natural impulse is to begin by saying, “I have a similar experience, and I want to share it,” remember, the conversation is going nowhere! Similarly, if you are networking with an agenda (to sell / market your product / service), LISTEN to your prospect. Ask for their thoughts, opinions and share your observations. Sometimes, it is a great idea to speak to a fellow delegate about the speaker and question him what he / she thinks of the topic. This way, you get to branch out into different conversations. You never know who has that which you need!

5) Follow the Story, Complete the Loop

If you want to achieve your goals, follow the story. Make an attempt to complete the loop of connection by connecting with your new contacts on social media and / or email. It is a good idea to re-orient them with the backstory, of where you met them, what discussion did you have and what did you come away with.

Post-Covid, I am now making deliberate attempts to network more meaningfully. I have pulled back on networks and communities that are NOT adding to my life, the one’s that are distracting and sometimes cost to my money. While human connections are important and not all networking may be for business, I feel that a clarity of intent has helped me choose my networking outings more meaningfully.

1. What does networking mean to you?
2. Do you carry stories in your bag?
3. Do you think these Storytelling Strategies will help you network better?

Let me know!

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This post first appeared on the YSB Blog

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