Professional events offer a plethora of opportunities to grow and expand your network. Whether you are looking for new clients, business opportunities, mentors or a job, networking events can be helpful.
The key is to be prepared, professional and proactive with your follow up. This is how you create meaningful connections.
Learn to cultivate meaningful connections with grace and social etiquette, enhancing both personal and professional relationships for lasting fulfillment.
1. Know Your Purpose
Attending networking events can be a great way to connect with new people and make professional relationships. Networking events can vary in size and focus, but the common goal is to build connections that can help you further your career.
Most networking events have time allotted for attendees to mingle and also often feature a keynote speaker or workshop. These sessions are valuable because they can offer you insights and inspiration from other high achievers in your industry.
It is important to get clear on what you would like to gain from the event beforehand. This will help you stay focused and optimize the conversations that you have throughout the event.
2. Have a Plan
One of the most important aspects of attending networking events is having a clear plan about what you hope to achieve. This may be a specific number of new connections, or gaining insight into industry trends.
If a list of event attendees is available prior to the event, take a look and mark people you want to connect with. This will help to focus your conversations and allow you to make a more meaningful connection.
After meeting someone, don’t be afraid to follow up with a LinkedIn invite or coffee date. This will show that you’re genuinely interested in connecting with them. Keep a pen with you to subtly jot down notes after each conversation, too.
3. Be Prepared
Networking events are a great way to expand your professional circle and meet new people in your industry. But networking takes preparation, professionalism once you’re there, and follow-through with your connections after the event.
To make the most of your networking event experience, be prepared with the following things: business cards, conversation starters, a pen and paper to take notes (unless you use Tapni) or a digital tool, like CRM, to manage your contacts, if needed. Also, write down a personal note after every meaningful conversation you have at the event so that when it comes time to follow up, you can accurately recall names and topics of discussion.
4. Have Conversation Starters Ready
Having conversation starters in your back pocket will help you shoot down awkwardness and dead air when you meet people. Having a few questions in mind to ask people can also help ensure that you’re making the most of the time you have together.
People really like talking about themselves, so it’s a great way to break the ice and start a conversation at a networking event. Try one of these 40 Conversation Starters for Getting Someone to Open Up to get the ball rolling.
Finally, it can be helpful to keep a pen handy so that you can subtly write some highlights on the back of someone’s business card later to jog your memory and make sure that you follow up properly.
5. Be Yourself
Attending a networking event can be daunting. You are surrounded by people who may or may not know you, and they’re all on their own mission to make new connections. It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your presence is simply a tool for finding a job, but it’s important to show people you’re genuinely interested in them.
Putting on a pretense will be short-lived, and even the most experienced networkers can spot a fake from a mile away. Choosing the right events for you and being prepared with some conversation starters beforehand can help you conserve your energy so you can leave with a meaningful connection.
6. Follow Up
The most successful networking events result in meaningful connections. To help you make these connections, it’s important to follow up.
Rather than sending someone a generic LinkedIn invite after the event, write a personal note to each person that you talked with. This helps them remember you and will come in handy when you’re following up.
Networking is a necessary skill for any career professional, and mastering networking basics will help you leave awkwardness at the door and connect effectively with people who can advance your career. By being prepared before the event, professional once you’re there, and proactive with your follow-up, you can build relationships that will benefit your career.