Does your networking phobia hold you back in business?
If you’re anything like me you’ve probably succumbed to the ever-increasing need to boost your visibility and authority in your chosen market or industry. And – like it or not – one of the most powerful ways of doing just that, is by plonking yourself in the middle of a room full of strangers. But like most opportunities, it comes down to what you make of it. So, guzzling bubbles and checking your phone to avoid looking lost, isn’t going to help you. Whether it’s attending an industry event, a seminar, a local chamber of commerce meet-up, or even a book launch – they’re all amazing opportunities to learn from others, stay up to date with current trends, as well as market yourself and/or your business.
Now that’s all well and good. But I’m guessing some of you would rather poke yourself in the eye with a burning stick, right? Well, as somewhat of an introvert myself I can happily tell you you’re not alone. But actually – that’s no excuse! So, here’s a few tips on how to make your next event a more rewarding experience.
Keep your focus on being genuinely curious about others.
Not only does this divert attention away from yourself – it makes it far easier to initiate a natural, authentic conversation. Most people are happy to talk about themselves and their passion – and you can get some real pearls of wisdom if you ask the right questions. Some trusty ice-breakers are; ‘What brings you to this event?’, ‘How have you found this type of event useful?’ , ‘What other events do you like to attend?’. And for some deeper insights, try; ‘What has been your greatest learning in business?’, ‘How would you describe the profile of your typical client/customer?’ or, ‘What was your career journey before your current role or business venture?’. Plus, don’t forget to look for opportunities to introduce others to people you know. Apart from being a nice thing to do, it’ll help you to keep moving around the room and meeting new people.
Be selective and stick to events where the topic or type of attendee is of genuine interest to you.
Sounds obvious, right? Attending networking events shouldn’t just be a box-ticking exercise because you know you should ‘do’ them. The whole point is to get value out of them. So, make sure they’re going to attract the kind of attendees that might include members of your target market, or industry experts you can learn from. If the topic isn’t of interest, you simply won’t be engaged. As a litmus test, imagine your attendance was conditional on having to present a 5-10-minute session on how you could apply what you’ve learned. If you don’t think you can get enough insight to fill 5-10 minutes, then you probably shouldn’t bother going.
Practice and perfect your 10 second commercial.
That is, a response to the ‘tell me about yourself’ or ‘so, what do you do?’ question. Practice until it’s so habitual you don’t even have to think about it. Make sure it focuses on the value you add – not simply ‘what you do’. For example, ‘I help businesses get their customers to act or behave in the way they want, by writing persuasive copy for websites and brochures.’ A great tip is to record it into your phone and play it back out loud until you’re happy it sounds natural. You’ll be surprised how quickly this will help you build confidence.
So, plan ahead a little – and don’t let your inhibitions get the better of you. Simply consider each event as a carefully chosen opportunity to learn, and to have authentic and engaging conversations with others. That way, you can’t lose.