Whilst some people can work a room effortlessly and positively feed off the experience, for others it feels forced and inauthentic.
Hate it or love it, networking can’t always be avoided completely, and so, whatever you feel building your confidence and skills in this area will only ever be a good thing. Whether it is moving to a new area, embarking on a new job, launching a business, or simply establishing and maintaining your professional presence, there will always be a need to network to a certain extent.
The key to networking confidently and effectively is establishing a strategy and approach that works for you, fits with your personal purpose, and generates results.
Here are some key steps that will help you to feel more at ease in any networking scenario.
Start With ‘Why’
The road to confident and effective networking starts with introspection; you won’t do the best job in articulating your unique qualities and values to others if you’re unsure of what they are yourself. Invest a little time in yourself, establishing your purpose, finding your ‘why’, and getting to the heart of what drives you (personally, as well as professionally). Figure that out first, and then you can move on to working out how you can help other people, and how they can help you. Which is precisely the point of networking.
Establish Your Elevator Pitch
You can read more about how to develop your elevator pitch in the article posted previously.
Do Your Research
‘Forewarned is forearmed’, as the saying goes. Where possible, do as much research as you can about the event you are attending, the likely attendees, and the hosts. Flattery gets you a long way, and nothing is more flattering than evidence that you’ve taken the time in advance to know a little about the people you meet. Whether it’s reading a few articles they’ve written, knowing something about them professionally, or pointing out mutual connections, you’ll find that conversation flows more as a result.
Structure Your Approach
Although you can’t be too rigid about how you will ‘work’ the event, you can aim to play to your strengths:
- The important thing is that you feel like you. In other words, dress appropriately for the event, but in a way which makes you feel comfortable in your own skin.
- Next up; your arrival strategy. Being among the first to arrive will give you time to get your bearings, eliminate the stress of running late, not to mention the bonus of being part of conversation groups as they form around you.
- Survey the room for a few seconds before you launch in. If you’ve done your research, you should be able to identify someone who you’ll feel more inclined to gravitate to. Be it that you know of them, or simply that they’re standing on own, target the most approachable person / group and … approach them!
- Arm yourself with an exit strategy. ‘Working the room’ is often reported as the hardest part of networking, and if you struggle to find a polite way to move on from the first person you meet, then you simply need a few mentally rehearsed lines. Typically, everyone is there for the same reason; to circulate. So, it’s OK to be honest. Mentioning that you need to catch up with a particular individual before they leave can be a good way to excuse yourself politely. Likewise, suggesting that you exchange contact details / business cards and make further contact after the event can politely signify that you are ready to move on.
Set Clear Goals
You’re there for a purpose, but you’re more likely to fulfill that purpose if you break it down into achievable goals. Whether you commit to talking to a certain number of people or resolve to make sure you don’t leave without introducing yourself to a particular individual, the more focused you are at the point when you walk in, the more likely you are to reap benefits.
Networking is not a quick and instant win. Effective networking takes an investment of time and, for those of us who don’t naturally feel comfortable at the prospect, a little courage. Networking is about finding, building, and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships. Just like friendships, these take some nurturing and some sustained effort, but the more you put in, the more you’ll get back.
