Attending a conference, awards
program or networking event? Here are 4 tips to follow so you can be
more successful:
1.
Have a Plan
Before you decide to attend, focus on your purpose for attending and
ask yourself these questions:
·
Is there anyone in particular
that you'd like to meet (do your research ahead of time)
·
Is there specific information
that you are looking to gather?
·
Will you share with people that
you are in the market for a new job, or are looking for new clients?
Having a plan will make it easier for you to focus your attention and
make it more likely that you will be successful.
2.
Practice
Despite how easy a quick introduction
at a networking event would seem, people often stumble over it. Practice
introducing yourself with confidence so you don’t waste the opportunity to make
a good first impression.
·
Speak
loudly, slowly and clearly enough to be heard and understood.
·
Enunciate
and speak with energy.
·
Stand
up straight, smile and make eye contact with the person you're introducing
yourself to.
3.
Listen
Good networkers listen more than they talk. Resist the urge to dominate the conversation
and instead, follow this process:
·
Ask open-ended questions; these
questions often begin with "how" or "what" and require more
than a "yes/no" answer.
·
Actually listen to the
answers.
·
Demonstrate that you are
listening by your non-verbal communications, for example, by making eye contact
and nodding.
4.
Be Confident
If you hate networking and are uncomfortable schmoozing with people,
recognize that many others feel just as uncomfortable as you do.
·
Look for someone standing
alone.
·
Go introduce yourself. It's
okay to say, "I don't think I know anyone here yet."
·
Most likely, they’ll be grateful
for the introduction – and you may just make a great professional
connection!
Following these 4 tips will help you get more out of the event and
build your professional network.
GILDA BONANNO helps you transform your
communication and leadership skills so you can have more confidence, influence
and success. She has worked with leading organizations, including GE,
Travelers, Praxair, Assa Abloy, Wells Fargo and Yale University, on four
continents from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. She is a frequent sponsor
of Westfair events.
Videos: www.youtube.com/user/GildaBonanno (more than 1 million views)
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gildabonanno/