Network events – for some the thought sounds exciting. It’s an excellent opportunity to socialize and make key contacts. But for others, these events can be distressing or even dreadful. It can be especially difficult if you’re naturally introverted and have trouble coming out of your shell. Here are some practical tips for not only surviving but thriving during network events.
Prepare Some Topics Beforehand
It’s a good idea to have some conversation starters prepared ahead of time. This way your interactions will be more fluid, and you’re more likely to make meaningful connections. Adequate preparation will also make you look more experienced even if you’re a newbie. For instance, you might come up with a handful of industry trends to discuss or potential questions to ask.
Use the Right Body Language
You’ll want others to perceive you as being approachable and “open.” What you don’t want is to come across as being closed off. You can usually accomplish this by working on your body language and doing the following:
- Smiling frequently
- Maintaining eye contact
- Laughing
- Being friendly
- Mirroring the other person’s actions
You can learn more on body language techniques with this resource.
Be the One to Initiate the Conversation
The key to making meaningful connections and ultimately extending your network is to get the ball rolling with your conversations. A great way to do this is by taking charge and being the one to start the conversation. Don’t just wait around for someone else to approach you. Doing so conveys confidence and increases the likelihood that the network event is a success. This leads us to our next point.
Ask Open Ended-Questions
In order to get the conversation going, introduce yourself and ask an open-ended question that can’t be answered with a mere yes or no. For example, you might something like, “What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in your industry this year?”
From there, make it a point to listen to the other person’s response and chime in with your own response. You can think of it as a tennis match where you first serve by asking an initial question and then volley the ball back by responding. Once you build some rapport, you can potentially make a valuable contact.
With a little preparation and the right techniques, you can get the most out of a network event. Not only will you survive it, you may even find it enjoyable.
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