Fifteen Tips for Mastering the Art of Networking
By Lydia Ramsey
Masterful networkers know that courtesy is the foundation
of professional connections. The whole process of networking is about
being courteous, considerate and helpful to the people you meet.
It’s important to be gracious, appreciative
and supportive when you are working to develop key business relationships.
Polish your networking etiquette with these tips so
that you can focus on the people you are meeting rather than worrying
about what to say or do next.
1. Do your homework. Find out the purpose of the event
and who is likely to attend. Be prepared for the people you will encounter.
2. If a response is requested, check your calendar
and reply immediately. Let your host know as soon as possible if your
plans change.
3. Think of how you will introduce yourself to others
and rehearse your lines.
4. Plan your icebreakers or conversation starters,
and practice them on your way.
5. Rehearse your exit lines as well so that you don’t
get stuck in conversation with just one person.
6. Read up on current events and listen to the news
so that you can engage in small talk no matter whom you meet.
7. Think about your arrival time. At a meal function,
allow time for networking before the food is served and the program
begins. At a stand up event, arrive before everyone has chosen conversation
partners and is uninterruptible.
8. At meal functions, sit with people you don’t
know rather than your best friend or the crew from the office.
9. Introduce yourself to everyone at the table before
you sit down. Don’t wait for someone else to make introductions.
10. Give yourself a tag line. Say, “Hello, I’m
Mary Brown, owner of XYZ Company. We help ....” This will prompt
the other person to offer similar information, and you’ll have
the beginning of a conversation.
11. When someone new approaches the table, take the
initiative and introduce yourself immediately.
12. Take the responsibility of introducing the other
people at the table, even if you just met them yourself.
13. Include something in your introduction of other
people that helps them relate to one another and engage in conversation.
14. Handle the exchange of business cards discreetly.
Don’t pass a stack of business cards around the table unless
someone specifically asks you to (if someone asks, it is rude to refuse).
15. Initiate conversation with the persons sitting
to both your right and your left. Don’t monopolize a conversation
with any one person at the table to the exclusion of others.
In summary, be prepared. Don’t wait until after
you have arrived to think about what you want to say to the people
you meet.
Lydia Ramsey is the author of The Etiquette of
Networking. She conducts presentations for organizations that want
their employees to be at ease in business situations and to represent
them well in the marketplace. Visit her website: www.mannersthatsell.com,
send an email to her at lydia@... or call 912-598-9812.
