Done well, networking can be more than just a chance to meet new people – it can open you and your organisation to a world of opportunity.
Networking must be a key skill in your leadership toolkit and usually requires you to step outside of your comfort zone.
We all know that feeling of being in an unconventional space – we don’t necessarily feel confident, and we start over-analysing everything we do and say, rather than actively listening to what others have to say.
We should use these opportunities not to worry what other people think of us but as an opportunity to learn from other people.
Rather than feeling we must be on show all the time, try a different approach by asking general questions.
As you scan the room, be mindful of people’s body language. If people are in a closed group, that might be a group that’s more awkward to join.
Whereas, if people are standing with each other, but there’s space for you to move in, that’s where you can walk up and introduce yourself.
So what are the benefits to you and the company of networking?
Use your networking events to gain a better understanding of both customer insights and competitor advantages. Take the opportunity to benchmark yourself and your business against others at the event.
From the event attendee listing, identify who you feel can add value to the event for you. Who can you speak with that could share knowledge and information to assist you and your organisation?
You also need to consider how you can add value to other people and see this as an opportunity of a soft sell of your services or product
Networking is a great way to build excitement around your business or personal brand.
An ideal tool to demonstrate this effectively is an elevator speech.
Having an elevator speech prepared and well rehearsed helps avoid accidentally diminishing yourself when you talk about your organisation.
It is important to note that you don’t need to exchange 100 business cards. It’s better to make those authentic connections with a few people, and make sure you follow up with them; send them an email or connect on LinkedIn.
