How to Network (and Prep for it!)
Networking is important for everyone, especially now. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what you do, or where you live. Some facet of all of our lives involves networking. For example, did you know that 80% of people acquire new jobs through their network?
And just like WIIFM, the look of networking has evolved. It no longer means walking into a poorly decorated hotel conference room with name tags, cheap wine, and salesmen. These days, networking happens in Zoom chats, Instagram DMs, and yes, offline IRL.
In fact, I’d offer that the IRL networking is more important now than ever. As people spend more time behind their screens, the way to stand out is to circulate in the real world, face to face. It’s how you test, learn, and refine; and meet business prospects and employee candidates.
Many years ago while working in London, I attended a presentation by Lee Warren, a corporate trainer who moonlights as a magician(!!!). He gave some master tips about how to network, that I still use today…
A Little Time to Prepare How to Network
Block out time two days before, to do some mental (and actual) preparation. Think of the following as your reminder checklist, and practice.
A good networker is someone who…
- Has personal gravity (I just love the way this sounds, don’t you?).
- Can find commonalities with others. The words “You too…?!” are a powerful connector.
- Are interesting and interested.
- Ask fun and interesting questions. “If you ask boring questions, you get boring answers.” Most people love to talk about love, money, health, and leisure (approach leisure with caution: it’s the most overused topic in networking).
- Do their homework. Research who will be at the event so you know who you want to meet. Then, get a newspaper on the day of a networking event and pick a topic from love, money, and health so that you have interesting things to say.
Be an Excellent & Memorable Contributor
When you arrive…
- As soon as you enter the room, start talking to the nearest person standing alone. I know, it’s scary! However, the reason is: it helps you warm up and build a rhythm.
- Remember people’s names: Listen, Comment, then repeat their name.
- Create conversation using the tips mentioned above.
- Know your elevator pitch: who you are, something memorable about you, and what you want. However, always give something of value before asking for value.
Questions to Prompt Meaningful Conversation
- What do you think about ___?
- How do you manage to ___?
- What advice would you give about ___? (especially if you’re speaking to someone more senior)
- How do you feel about ___?
- What wouldn’t I know about ___?
Next Level Tips How to Network
- We’ve all been in situations where we just cannot seem to break free from our new networking friend. A great but polite exit strategy is: “Who are you hoping to meet tonight?” And if you can, make the introduction.
- Approach a pair of people from the side, but only if they’re facing each other at a 45 degree angle. If two people are squarely facing each other, they may be having a private conversation or doing a deal.
- Do not check your phone! We all do it – maybe we have pressing business, but most likely we want to look occupied. Doing this draws your attention down and closes off your body language.
Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned about networking is that it’s like a muscle. I’ll often hear people object, “but I’m an introvert!” And surely, networking is more fatiguing for introverts than extroverts. If you’re an introvert, you may have to plan alone time to recover.
But this is a practice (which is great news!), and the above steps will help you gain energy, increase confidence, and become stronger. With consistency, this will build your business community and network and open doors that would never have presented themselves without the effort.
