Networking: ‘Tis the season of networking events.

We are entering the season of networking so I thought I would share a few tips that I have successfully used when it comes to networking events.

Networking: the art of building reciprocal relationships that help individuals and the community as a whole achieve their goals – Steven D’Souza

?Your time is precious:

Decide on how long each week or a month you wish to spend at networking events. It is easy to spend many hours at networking events. The organisers’ purpose is to fill the event and get you there. Your mission is to meet people that fit with your goals and aspirations whilst building your career or purpose. Your time is precious.

?Determine the type of event you want to attend who you want to meet and “your WHY”. This means thinking what your purpose is for attending the event. Is it knowledge? – the latest situation in your area of expertise or an area that you want to become an area of expertise? Your market place? Is there someone you want to meet? – a role model, industry peers, industry competitors or an industry expert or guru.

Networking Event preparation:?

·?????Have you checked who is going or who the main speaker is? – Ask the organiser for a list of who is going – the worst they can do, is not tell you.

·?????Make a list of who you want to meet.

·?????If you don't know the person you want to meet, ask the host if they will introduce you to x when they arrive. Most times hosts are delighted to do this and feel they are making the party be successful.

·?????Make a list of any questions you want to get answered.

·?????Be respectful of others and your own time. Have a strategy for getting from one person to the next. You must have had the situation where someone won’t leave you alone. You might say “please excuse me I promised to see this person, I will catch you later.” I am sure you get the gist.

·?????Have a business card or some equivalent that may be electronic. One tip I share is don't run out of cards but asking the person requesting your card if they will photograph it as you are down to your last – it’s one way to be unique.

What do I say to be people? Why am I here?

“A brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room!”

Jeff Bezos, Founder and former CEO Amazon.

Your brand is your unique set of qualifications, strengths, key personal attributes, values, and passions that represent your promise of value to a target audience or in the case of job seekers your target employers.

I would list 5 things that you might want the person opposite to know about you – not your "elevator pitch", but important detail about yourself and perhaps something that is unique or makes you different for example I keep bees or I am a councillor?

The Networking Event:

First greet the host and thank them for inviting you. Remember if you don't know some of the people on your list, ask the host if they will introduce to x when they arrive. Most times hosts are delighted to do this and feel they are making the party be successful.

Then it’s time to play so first get in “state”.

Not everyone is comfortable networking: How does a successful person who is looking to meet his / her peers look, feel, sound like. I am them. Visualise yourself as them. See yourself walking into the room, chatting easily with a number of people

However, I would also be mindful of one of Stephen Coveys Habits Seek first to Understand, then to be Understood

In the normal course of a conversation one person is always waiting for a cue to talk, usually as soon as the other has finished. Has that person really listened? Really listen to your colleagues and peers, try to understand their values and ask yourself what would I have to believe to say or think this or that? Once you have listened to them, they will want to listen to you. It is a skill as well as habit and takes time to learn. Be patient.

There is also overwhelming evidence that small talk helps you understand how a person might think and work.

Finally, you can only make one first impression so be your authentic best. As Oscar Wilde put it “Be Yourself: everyone else is already taken.”

Networking follow up:

After meeting someone for the first time that you wish to keep in touch with you need to follow up quickly and consistently to embed yourself in their memory. One of the best suggestions I have heard is 24-7-30; respond within 24 hours of meeting, touch base again after a week and then again within the month.?

Each point of contact should be meaningful – for example an article you think they might find useful -, different and more about them than you. You'll then find, more often than not, that they are likely to remember you several months later.?

I recommend you practice, measure, and monitor and see what works best for you. Eventually it will become second nature and you will reap many opportunities to help or be helped by other people.?

Good Luck.