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Transcript
Finding a good starter when it comes to networking or environments and circumstances where we have the chance to meet other people may feel super complicated or awkward, but it’s actually way simpler than how we think or what we think. I usually recommend to start thinking about yourself and your reason and your motivation to be in that precise environment, or let’s say it might be a meet up or an nowadays, like an online meetup or a breakfast club.
So try to start thinking about why you were there. What is your interest in being there and that you might have a genuine interest in meeting other people and connecting with other people that are there probably because they share an interest or common interests like you do, or with you. So first of all try to understand why you’re there and what is your intention to connect with other people. Once you have a side of yourself and be more confident about it and remind yourself why you’re there, I usually recommend to go with very typical small talk. I know we may sound like a bit, all awkward, but it’s actually not– smalltalk are there for that reason. So you can, if you, if there is a buffet, so if there is food or coffee, just feel free to approach people about it.
Like, Oh, this is pretty, um, appealing, or where is the coffee? Do you know where it can find this or talk about the weather or talk about the room set up. So very little inputs for you to literally like approach someone in a way to doesn’t feel extremely like direct or straightforward, or even like too out of place. Another good point, if you feel like more confident or comfortable with that, is to pay attention to who was particularly active in the panel discussions or in the networking activities. Catch what they say and who asks questions and that, and then at that point, go there and follow up with them. For example, “Hey, your questions were really good. I really appreciated your point. I really agree with what you said”. And then from there you can either start smoothly, introduce yourself, or just try to go right straight into the conversation as much, you feel like this is the right way to do it. So, yeah, if you are more like an extrovert, it could be good to use the panel activities strategy and follow up with the people about it. If you’re more like an introvert, just try to see where the groups are and where you can really slowly sneak in and almost like gently approach people about more like smaller things like small talk, weather, set up and so on.
So it’s really important and strategic for your network approach to at some point, move beyond a smalltalk or in a more generic talk and move into a more engaged conversation or engage interactions. How will you can do that? So, first of all, it’s important that you find a good balance between talking about yourself and asking questions. So active listening and showing presence is really crucial to let the people in front of you feel like that they have space for talking and expressing their experience and opinion. But don’t be extremely silent. Don’t be just stare like a ghost. Um, people like when you show interest and when you show presence. And at that point, try to engage, with questions, with strategic questions, like following up with what they said and try to deepen even a bit more points or experiences they have shared with you.
Of course do not interrupt, but also do not feel that you don’t have space in this because this is a conversation– it’s a dialogue and it always involves two parts. So make sure to add your questions, and as I say to deep aspects that are particularly interesting and try to engage strategically, trying to find out more about what people do and how you can actually picture a potential collaboration with them. So try to understand what kind of field they’re come from, what are their pain points and try to see where intersection points are there between you. And then when you realize when you identify intersection points with what they do and what you do, try to be genuinely proactive and curious about how you actually can come up with a good potential collaboration or show them how you can help or show what is your expertise and how you can actually provide them with your help and support to either find solutions for things you’re struggling with, or potentially partnering up to do things together.
If you’re an introvert, I totally understand that is my, you feel completely out of your comfort zone. So, if you feel more comfortable, try to ask questions and maybe just ask for their contact or a business cards. And if you feel better to follow up in like by an email over your message, just feel, feel free to do it. It’s absolutely no wrong, do it your way. You’re not missing out anything. But remember that after the conversation or the meeting, you still need to follow up with them and cultivate this relationship or this connection in order to keep it like, long standing or like after the meetup as well.
Why you should call a person by their name while speaking to them?
A person’s name is their identity, even if they don’t realize it. It’s who they are and what they respond to. Hence, using a person’s name immediately catches their attention! More importantly, when you use someone’s name, you are making them turn toward you. It’s a sign of respect, recognition, and inclusion of that person in a specific conversation. Even if they aren’t listening or are involved in another conversation, the minute you use a person’s name, they will turn around and recognize it. Don’t think so? Try it and see what happens!
However, it’s important to know that there are still a few considerations you need to take when using someone’s name according to Changing Minds:
- A name is one’s identity. Hence, be careful with when and what to use it for! Think of it as part of handling that person, you need to be cautious especially when it’s someone you just met.
- Using someone’s name is an effective way of diving into a conversation, especially with grabbing their attention if they have drifted off!
- A name can have a formal and informal connotations. Know when to use which one by evaluating where your relationship with that certain person is. Another suggestion is to personally ask somebody what they prefer to be called. This ensures that you have permission to use the form of their name that they prefer.
- Don’t overdo it! If you use someone’s name too much, it may come off as manipulative or mocking so use it only when it is appropriate.
