Setting the scene: You’ve pumped yourself up to go to a networking event. You have a goal and there are connections to be made. But then you arrive and…. 

You don’t quite hit your stride and things start sounding a little like: 

Or the nerves set in and you pull one of these:

Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. Well, hopefully not the second one.

But it happens.
So what can we do to improve our networking experience?
Recently, I’ve been thinking about and discussing the challenges of communication, specifically the networking variety, with colleagues. I’ve gathered some pointers. Hopefully, you’ll find a gem below.
A little networking 1,2,3:
1. Networking (or any meetup) is a give and take environment. We often make the  mistake of only having the goal to meet certain people because they can provide us with something needed: insight, connection, referral.
However, for these types of experiences to truly be successful, we must think of how we can give back to those we meet. We all have strengths in different areas. What are yours? Share the knowledge.
2. Anchor the Conversation. We don’t always instantly vibe with everyone. How can we ensure a meaningful conversation?
  1. Allow yourself to be vulnerable to make a connection. If you are chatting with someone and they seem guarded. Offer a personal detail or share a story to break the ice. Take that first step.
  2. Ask meaningful questions to elicit better conversation:
    1. Business Example: How did you end up in your line of work?
    2. Friendly Connection Example: What is a book or experience that has impacted you the most and why?
3. Be prepared. If you find these types of situations stressful (I often do), set some boundaries for yourself.
  1. Set an intention for the evening. If the guest/company attendee list is available, do a little research to gauge the experience and set a game plan. Ask the host if needed.
  2. Have an exit strategy. Allow yourself to leave an event – early is fine. Too much can literally be too much. Don’t drain yourself.

 

Now what? Let’s put those pointers into action.
Join us at the ConnectHV × CoWork Kingston August Meetup at our event venue Senate Garage.
I look forward to seeing you all there!
 Much love
 ~Melanie, Community Manager
Pro Tip: Check out Omid Scheybani’s Instragram and TEDx Talk for more tips
on breaking small talk bad habits and making meaningful connections.