First time networking? Read On

So it’s your first networking experience? What is currently going through your head right now? If it was anything like my first thought when I walked into a BNI event (Business Networking International) back in 2013 it may be something like this…

What on earth have I gotten myself into here? A 22 year old, fresh out of training to be a personal development coach, trying to engage others twice my age on career advice and counselling them to make a change and understand their own values?!? As if anyone will take me seriously at my age?!? Previously I would be running into a room trying to connect with every single person, however over time I found this strategy useless. It wasn’t me and neither did it agree with who I wanted to be as a coach plus it certainly wasn’t leading to more clients!

I used to doubt my skills and insights constantly when I first began networking but without that initial attempt I wouldn’t be anywhere near to where I am now. Everything about that first experience has changed for the better. I now walk into events and coffee chats with a completely different mindset, confident in who I am, my abilities and my ability to communicate this.

When I reflect on above, it was likely a combination of the following three factors below that I was not getting right. These are the first three main points I share with young people when trying to network for their first time.  

1.     Elevator Pitch 

That question of  “Sooooo, Tell me about yourself?”. I could nearly guarantee this question to come up in nearly each of the following settings; Networking, Job Interviews and Dating. Now I have been out of the dating game for a long time so I can’t give advice on that, however in the first settings I can. It all comes down to how you communicate who you are, what you do and why you do it. Figure these out and you are halfway there. If you need any tips on this, send me a private message. 

2.     Actively listen

Many people in conversations spend their time figuring out when they are going to enter the conversation or what they are going to say next and are not actually listening to what the other person is saying. Active listening is where you are fully engaged in the conversation, your body language is open, you are listening to the tone and every word that comes out of the other persons mouth. This is the only way you really gain the full experience from a conversation. For more info on this type of thing google active listening as there are so many good resources in cyberspace on this. 

3.     What is your goal from the experience? 

Before you enter any room or networking chat, know what impression you want to leave once the conversation has finished. For many young people, this is as simple as sharing a professional, friendly and polite experience.

Take these points into your next networking experience and let me know how you go.

Best of luck!