Are you an effective networker? By the Tempe Chamber Business Development Council
Effective networking does not mean arriving first, dominating the appetizer table and chatting it up with your friends. A mixer or networking function where you don’t meet anyone new, expand your business or get a lead may be a lot of fun, but it’s not a smart use of a great opportunity for growth. The Tempe Chamber hosts three monthly mixers dedicated to network development: one morning mixer, one evening mixer and the “speed dating for business” Networking @ Noon luncheon. On top of that, larger events, ribbon cuttings, committee involvement and various workshops all provide great ways to grow your circle of peers, clients and resources. Here are some tips to help you maximize your networking experience. 1) Show up on time. Not half an hour early while the venue is setting up and not half an hour late when the program has already begun. Respect your time and that of everyone else for the best results. However, if other commitments keep you from arriving on time, better late than not showing up at all. 2) Meet new people! The biggest networking gaffe people make is to immediately seek out people they already know and then spend the whole time with them. Get out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to some new faces. Also, ask people you know to introduce you to other attendees. If you see someone you know talking with someone you have not met, introduce yourself and enter the conversation. If you are talking
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with a new connection, introduce him or her to people you know and expand your circle. 3) Who are you? Be sure you have a clearly written name tag and business cards to hand out. Remember that you’re not there to add to your business card collection or hand out as many of your cards as possible – you’re there to meet the people themselves. 4) Be an active listener. Avoid reciting your elevator speech over and over. Start a discussion of a more personal nature like asking, “What do you do when you’re not working?” or “How long have you lived here?” Then listen to the answers. Quite often a strong business relationship develops as a result of common interests. 5) “What do you do?” means “What do you do that can benefit me or my customers?” When discussing your job, relate it to how you can provide a service or use. Rather than stating you are an expert in social media, you can say, “I make it easier for consumers to find your business.” Pique their interest and let them ask you for more information. 6) Follow up. Within 24 hours, call or e-mail the people you met at the event. Even if you don’t see an immediate connection, simply saying hello is important in order to be remembered in the future. Send an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Too many people walk away from networking events feeling good but doing nothing. Take one decisive action based on something you learned or someone you met.
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