Real World Hypnotherapy
20th March 2006, 09:36
I have attended many networking events and I regularly speak to business people who also attend them. There seems to be several reoccurring issues that I have personally found and also the other people tell me about.
Talking to someone for too long
When you only have a limited amount of time and you want to meet a certain amount of people e.g. 10, then you can not spend too long talking to one person. I recommend spending a maximum of ten minutes talking to the same person before moving on, however sometimes you get stuck. There are a couple of polite ways of getting out of this situation, you can introduce them to someone else in the room or you can inform them that you need to go and speak to someone before they leave. Both ways make sure you exchange business cards and then move on.
Only speaking to people you already know
When you go to a networking event it is likely that you know someone there already. Instead of mingling with the new people, you stay with the people you already know and then it suddenly turns from a business event to a social event. If you want to see people you already know then I suggest too do it away from networking events. If not there is sometimes little point going to these events if you are not going to meet new people.
One thing I commonly do when I see someone I know, I go and say hellp to them and say who I am looking to meet that night, they may even be able to point them out for you. Then I say to the person that we should meet up for a chat sometime or e-mail each other, I then politely excuse myself and go to meet new people.
Handing out your business card with your phone number, to too many people
When you go networking I actually suggest having a different business card made from the normal ones you hand out. One of the biggest distractions at work if taking phone calls, a much better way to communicate is via e-mail, this way you can decide when to contact people back instead of being constantly interrupted. If you hand out 20-30 business cards at an event with several number of, then you are likely to be plagued with phone calls from all sorts of people for the next week or so. If instead you just had an e-mail address on there, you can answer these in your own time.
Taking too many business cards from other people
When you are at an event you pick up lots and lots of business cards, however you probably only intend on contacting 2-3 people you actually met. What I suggest is to take a pen and write on the back something to remind you of that person. I would put something that you either discussed or a distinguishing feature i.e. a beard, funky haircut etc. That way when you are back in the office sorting through them, you know exactly who you need to contact.
Not approaching the right people
I get told off a lot of people that they are too shy to approach the people they really want to talk to. A lot of the time is it down to self confidence, but I know what it is like going up to someone you have never met and introducing yourself. A great way to speak to them is to ask the host, or someone that knows them already, to introduce you and tell them a little bit about you. This is like a referral from a trusted source and that new person will then be interested in talking to you.
Asking for free professional help
One thing that people do at networking events is ask people for free professional help. I speak to many business people such as accountants and lawyers who now tend to shy away from networking events as so many people approach them to ask questions about their own problems without offering anything in return. If you have a question you want to ask an accountant for example, you can explain the situation you are in but never ask for help, this way they are more inclined to offer assistance if they feel they are not being pressured. Another thing to do is say you have an issue and would they be able to help you if you booked an appointment with them. If you bother people they will avoid you in future and not introduce you to any of their peers.
Using cheap or free business cards
Biggest mistake you can make! Never hand out a cheap and nasty business card to anyone you want to do business with. You and your company with be undervalued straight away and it can cost you a lot of business. Successful people do not use free business cards, they use well designed cards on thick paper stock. Your business card is the only thing that people will remember you by, do not waste such opportunities, get some decent business cards made by a professional printing company. Do not print them off at home/the office, do not print them at a petrol station and do not have a big logo on the back saying free business cards.
Just a few hints and tips that I am sure many people here are guilty of and will also recognise from going to such events. There is also a great book called “the ultimate guide to successful networking” and it is written by Carole Stone. It is only £5 and well worth a read.
Matt, MK Printing
Talking to someone for too long
When you only have a limited amount of time and you want to meet a certain amount of people e.g. 10, then you can not spend too long talking to one person. I recommend spending a maximum of ten minutes talking to the same person before moving on, however sometimes you get stuck. There are a couple of polite ways of getting out of this situation, you can introduce them to someone else in the room or you can inform them that you need to go and speak to someone before they leave. Both ways make sure you exchange business cards and then move on.
Only speaking to people you already know
When you go to a networking event it is likely that you know someone there already. Instead of mingling with the new people, you stay with the people you already know and then it suddenly turns from a business event to a social event. If you want to see people you already know then I suggest too do it away from networking events. If not there is sometimes little point going to these events if you are not going to meet new people.
One thing I commonly do when I see someone I know, I go and say hellp to them and say who I am looking to meet that night, they may even be able to point them out for you. Then I say to the person that we should meet up for a chat sometime or e-mail each other, I then politely excuse myself and go to meet new people.
Handing out your business card with your phone number, to too many people
When you go networking I actually suggest having a different business card made from the normal ones you hand out. One of the biggest distractions at work if taking phone calls, a much better way to communicate is via e-mail, this way you can decide when to contact people back instead of being constantly interrupted. If you hand out 20-30 business cards at an event with several number of, then you are likely to be plagued with phone calls from all sorts of people for the next week or so. If instead you just had an e-mail address on there, you can answer these in your own time.
Taking too many business cards from other people
When you are at an event you pick up lots and lots of business cards, however you probably only intend on contacting 2-3 people you actually met. What I suggest is to take a pen and write on the back something to remind you of that person. I would put something that you either discussed or a distinguishing feature i.e. a beard, funky haircut etc. That way when you are back in the office sorting through them, you know exactly who you need to contact.
Not approaching the right people
I get told off a lot of people that they are too shy to approach the people they really want to talk to. A lot of the time is it down to self confidence, but I know what it is like going up to someone you have never met and introducing yourself. A great way to speak to them is to ask the host, or someone that knows them already, to introduce you and tell them a little bit about you. This is like a referral from a trusted source and that new person will then be interested in talking to you.
Asking for free professional help
One thing that people do at networking events is ask people for free professional help. I speak to many business people such as accountants and lawyers who now tend to shy away from networking events as so many people approach them to ask questions about their own problems without offering anything in return. If you have a question you want to ask an accountant for example, you can explain the situation you are in but never ask for help, this way they are more inclined to offer assistance if they feel they are not being pressured. Another thing to do is say you have an issue and would they be able to help you if you booked an appointment with them. If you bother people they will avoid you in future and not introduce you to any of their peers.
Using cheap or free business cards
Biggest mistake you can make! Never hand out a cheap and nasty business card to anyone you want to do business with. You and your company with be undervalued straight away and it can cost you a lot of business. Successful people do not use free business cards, they use well designed cards on thick paper stock. Your business card is the only thing that people will remember you by, do not waste such opportunities, get some decent business cards made by a professional printing company. Do not print them off at home/the office, do not print them at a petrol station and do not have a big logo on the back saying free business cards.
Just a few hints and tips that I am sure many people here are guilty of and will also recognise from going to such events. There is also a great book called “the ultimate guide to successful networking” and it is written by Carole Stone. It is only £5 and well worth a read.
Matt, MK Printing