As an entrepreneur, you may find navigating large networking events overwhelming and even unproductive if you aren’t prepared.
Given our experience, below are five tips to make sure you are getting the most out of your time (as well as the time of the people you meet):
- Do your homework. Utilize all the resources at your disposal to determine which events are relevant and interesting to you, given the topic as well as the people attending. After determining which event to attend, map out a plan to make the most of your time there. Leverage existing relationships for introductions to individuals who are attending whom you’d like to meet. Let your social networks on Twitter or LinkedIn know in advance that you’ll be attending–it’s a great way to turn online relationships into real-life connections. 2. Allow for spontaneity. Though it’s important to plan ahead, it’s also wise to leave room for meeting people you might not otherwise connect with or learning things you didn’t know. Maintaining an open mind–and an open schedule–has led to significant opportunities for our firm that we might not have even had on our radar a couple of years ago. 3. Get your elevator speech down. It may seem obvious, but being able to clearly articulate what you are trying to accomplish or what you have to offer is an extremely important part of the networking process. The key is to make every introduction memorable to ensure you’re not forgotten the minute you walk away. 4. Ask the right questions. You can gain a better understanding of each person’s needs and motivations by practicing active listening and asking relevant questions. By consistently looking to collaborate and create win-win situations, you might be able to help in ways you hadn’t planned. We often find that making introductions across your existing network to set up the right people is one of the greatest networking tools available.
Why do we think of so many great ideas in the shower? Four conditions are generally in play: Ou...
As anyone who has crammed for an exam can tell you, usually the number of hours we work without i...
Your workplace is filled with liars! How do I know? I’ve got this straight from one of the foremo...
Steven Covey had the right idea. There are discreet skills and attitudes, habits if you will, th...
A woman from the audience followed me into the hallway. “I think we’re married to the...
It’s easy to play up the adversarial relationship between “Hacks” and “Flacks,” but the truth of...
Some companies out there will charge you thousands of dollars to look after the SEO on your ecomm...
Video has become an essential marketing tool. It’s a great way to tell your story, show the huma...
A set of four rules articulated by Abraham Lincoln in 1840 can help corporate communicator create...
The value of this Business Plan process is the thinking that it forces you to do about your busin...
Every once in a while consultants are challenged to put their ideas into practice. Such was my ex...
Throwing chairs, tossing zingers and misusing the English language are probably not the best tact...
The second most frequently asked question I receive is “Where can I find good humorous mate...
Can’t tell a joke? No problem. Use simple types of humor that don’t require any special c...
Instead of checking email continuously and from multiple devices, schedule specific email time d...
Humor is a powerful communication tool. It can gain attention, create rapport, and make ideas mo...
How are you gathering data and intelligence from your employees, peers and bosses to make smart ...
AT WORK: Send concise, work related emails; call if matter is urgent, needs discussion/input with...
The first step to listening better is to recognize the fact that you don’t. Ask yourself the fol...
I was flying from the Midwest to Seattle. She was my seatmate. And she was clearly in meltdown ...
