I found an interesting article recently called "Networking for People Who Hate It". My number 1 tip for networking when you don’t feel like talking? Don’t talk!
OK you say, but how do I get through an entire session without talking? The answer is simple. You follow these steps:
- Ask a question.
- Be quiet.
- Listen actively and carefully.
- Pick something the other person said, and ask them a question that allows them to elaborate further on the topic.
And that’s it! Ask, listen, repeat – it’s all you need to know. People in small businesses are usually very passionate entrepreneurs. Passionate people love to talk about that which they are passionate about! It’s really that simple. When you combine the active listening with the asking, it makes the people you meet feel special that you took the time to hear their story.
I did leave out one part though, and this is important. When the person is done, offer something. Give them some piece of you. It could be a suggestion, a potential solution to one of their current difficulties, a bit of wisdom, or even just a vote of "hey, that’s a very original idea and I like it!" Show the other person you care by offering a small token of yourself that will help them along the way to success, and they will return the favor when you need some help as well.
April 10, 2007
Networking