Once you’ve decided to attend a networking event, whether it's in person or virtual, an
important part of your planning before you attend is to prepare your message.
What is a message?
The one thing that you want to share with people that you're going to meet.
Your message not only includes who are you, but also is
customized to the particular situation and focused on what you have to offer in
this context.
We're complex people, with a lot of facets to our
personalities. We have our home lives,
our work lives, our families, our community, our interests, etc. When you go to an event, you need to be
clear about your purpose in attending and what part of your life and background
you will share with people at this particular event.
For example, if you're at an event sponsored by an
organization you volunteer for, you may be talking about the work you do for
that organization. If you’re at your
daughter’s school event, your message may include more about her and your
involvement with the school.
Or, if you are currently in a job, but you're looking for a
new job, do you want to share that with people at the networking event? If so,
how are you going to say that? If you
just “wing it” in the moment and blurt it out, it may not come out the way you
want it to come out. It may sound very negative or unflattering about your
current company.
You also need to
customize your message for the kind of people you’re likely to meet. For example, if I'm going to a networking
event where there will be many entrepreneurs, my message when I introduce
myself includes the fact that I have my own business. In the course of the conversation,
I can certainly discuss other parts of my background, but I start off with
something that is relevant and understandable in this context.
The next time you go to a networking event, take some time
to prepare and practice your message, so you can communicate relevant
information about yourself, customized for this particular audience.
Ultimately, having a clear, concise message helps the people you meet
understand more about you so you can build a connection.
(C) Gilda Bonanno LLC www.gildabonanno.com