Business Networking - Getting Over the Fear

[Joseph K]

First time you network you could be nervous, that's natural. Try to network with people with the same age group as yours. Practice before, what you may say... with time you'll become more confident.

 

[Deleted member 336242]

I join the local business networking breakfast. People there are happy to give you leads. Members are encouraged to take terms to talk about their company. Each week a member will do a PowerPoint presentation about his business.

I did my opening like I did carpet cleaning for child care, rest home and strip clubs. That's a good idea breaker.

 

[japancool]

I did my opening like I did carpet cleaning for child care, rest home and strip clubs. That's a good idea breaker.

You mean you went down on your knees and wiped sticky stuff off the floor?

 

[MBE2017]

As a new rep on the road, I was understandably nervous for about two weeks, until one day I realised the people I was meeting were just as nervous very often as myself.

So I decided from then on I would let my client be nervous, and I would relax and enjoy the whole visit. There is little that does not become easier in time, practice makes perfect.

I would say that networking either in business or personally is potentially the most important skill to acquire. I still talk to contacts from 35 years ago, former colleagues from 20 years ago etc and we all work with each other every now and then.

 

[presentationgenius]

I would say that networking either in business or personally is potentially the most important skill to acquire. I still talk to contacts from 35 years ago, former colleagues from 20 years ago etc and we all work with each other every now and then.

Agreed - what I can't figure out is why so many people never bother to get sensible training in how to do it better. You don't need to be a damned genius to stand out, you just need to be better than the rest