Networking events are full of wasted opportunities. In any given event, thousands of potentially valuable conversations can be had, and almost none of them happen.
In today’s post, Pete talks about what you can do to set yourself apart by bucking that trend.
To learn more about how we can help your team network more effectively, check out our GROW-it program here.
Do you want to differentiate yourself from virtually everyone else at a networking event? The simplest way to do that is to walk up to another human being and engage them in conversation. It’s amazing how many people attend conferences only to retreat behind their laptops or phones the moment they have a chance to connect. That body language says, “Don’t talk to me.”
You can be the outlier. Stay off your technology, look up, and look around. Notice the people who are doing the same — or even those who are hiding behind their screens. Most people avoid networking because it triggers anxiety or self-consciousness. If that sounds like you, the only way through it is practice. Push yourself to engage. Each time you do, it gets easier.
Approach someone with genuine appreciation and curiosity about who they are. Ask open-ended questions: What brings you to this event? What are you hoping to get out of it? What kind of work do you do? Then listen. Really listen. Be authentically curious about their story and their goals. That curiosity is what turns small talk into meaningful connection.
The more you do this, the more confident and natural you’ll become at breaking the ice. You’ll start creating useful, positive, and mutually valuable conversations that can lead to real relationships. And if a conversation doesn’t go anywhere, that’s okay — you’ve still learned something about what doesn’t work.
Remember, the most valuable thing any networking event offers is a room full of people to practice your human-being skills with. So put down your phone, look up, and start a conversation. You might be surprised at how much opportunity — and connection — is waiting for you.
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