In today’s society everything is about networking. I know you’ve heard of it, but what does it mean and how can you excel at it. How can it make you better at your job? Networking is defined by Google as “interacting with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one’s career.” Even though we network all the time, is there a right way to accomplish this? The answer is yes. Just like everything else there are some guidelines and rules that can make you networking more successful. The goal is to be confident, so let’s look at a few ways we can help ourselves be better networkers.
- Adopt A Confident Posture. When your mother told you to stand up straight she was not just trying to give you good posture, she was trying to give you confidence. People who stand straight with their shoulders back and feet aligned with their hips appear open and receptive. It is more comfortable. People find they want to talk to you and want to be around you more. Make sure your tone of voice and eye contact follow up with the good posture. Everything about you needs to speak of confidence.
- Ask Open–Ended Questions. The conversation will quickly die if everything can be answered with a yes or no. Ask questions that can be turned into a conversation. Shine the light on other people by asking them questions about themselves. They will feel important. Do not be the guy that just talks about himself. It is annoying. Practice asking who, what, where, when, why and how questions. Prepare answers to the standard questions, and if you are asked a one-answer question find a way to expand you answer.
- Wear Something Distinctive. There are other ways to begin a conversation. Having something distinctive to wear, such a jewelry, a pin that supports a charity, or even a flower can help draw people in making it easier to start a conversation. It also gives them something to remember you by. Make sure you have a story to go along with it to make it stand out more. It can also reveal something about your interest and build a rapport with people.
- Know When and How to Extract Yourself from a Conversation. The goal when networking, especially at an event, is to meet as many people as possible. So it is important not to get trapped with just one person. You need to move on, but make sure you are polite about leaving. You can ask to call them later to finish the conversation, or have them make an appointment if they are wanting advice. Make sure to take their information and politely leave to meet someone else.
- Follow Up. This is the most important step in making networking successful. The first meeting is just a start. Send them a note, give them a call, send them what you promised, etc. The following gives the opportunity to continue to build the relationship.