How to Master In-Person Networking

2 min read

by Leon Collier

It’s now very difficult to believe that there was a time when people found jobs off the back of newspaper ads. That almost seems like an impossibility now because of personal relationships.

So, irrespective of the fact that you are trying to build your personal career, it is essential that you forge new relationships. As much as a social networking online is the norm of the society now, you should strive to make offline personal, connections as well.

The word “Networking” is one that many people might love or hate depending on how they view things. There are times when we might be looking to grow our network for marketing’s sake, and this involves meeting people and conversing with them. This process is, however, one that we hate to practice. So, it's like a love/hate relationship that many people have with networking. They love it, they want it, but they hate to do it.

The good thing is that the internet has given a haven for finding our way around networking with people less uncomfortably. In the custom papers by the Performics’ 2012 Life on Demand Survey, they noted that 40% of people feel better when engaging some other persons online rather than in person.

However, it might be more convenient and less intimidating to reach out to people behind our phone screens. It is still essential, even in today’s world, that people can network face to face. It’s a skill that must be honed for many reasons. A business reason is that it makes it possible to build good relationships with employees, managers, potential investors, partners, clients, and mentors.

This article offers a guide on how to master in-person networking and to be more comfortable talking to people one on one.

Have a goal in mind before approaching them

It would help if you had something to say to someone before you walk up to them to start an in-person conversation. You will easily make a fool of yourself if you don’t have anything in mind before trying to engage into a dialog. That’s a sure way to speaking gibberish.

So, if it’s an event, for instance, you need to know already the people that you’re going to be meeting, who they are? What do they do? And why you want to meet them? In other words, you need to prepare yourself to meet and discuss specific topics with people rather than just bumping into them and look silly groping for words.

That lack of preparedness is what makes it awkward. Having a goal in mind will make your networking more precise and effective.

Introduce yourself to people that are greater than you

There’s no need to attend an event if you aren’t looking forward to the opportunity to introduce yourself to ‘big people.’ These events are often the only chance you’ll get to network with that CEO or the author of that best-selling book you love. But once you see them, you can become anxious, and everything is awkward all over again. Try not to make a fool of yourself at that point.

Don’t forget that the first thing is to have a goal in mind – something you want to discuss with them. Walk up to them confidently and introduce yourself. Try not to give them the impression that you’re a fan.

Let them see you as an equal. Make the conversation exciting and relevant, and watch them admire you.

Ask questions about the people you’re talking to

One thing you must try to avoid when networking is to make the conversation about you. People get bored and lose interest in you and the conversation if it’s all about you alone. Make it about them but make sure you don’t delve too deep so that they don’t start to feel uncomfortable.

Know when to back down when it starts making them uneasy. Ask them questions about themselves to keep the conversation going.

While you can start the conversation with some introductions, try to get to know each other. After that, show some genuine interest in them. Your keenness to listen to them and understand them says a lot more about you than taking all the time to talk about yourself.

Once they see your genuine interest and have said something about themselves, it’s almost automatic that they’ll ask you to talk about yourself as well. They become genuinely interested in knowing you too. That’s how you network with people in person.

If they don’t show the same enthusiasm or interest in knowing you, they might not be worth the time.

Make sure that what you’re asking of them is mutually beneficial

The major point in networking is not just to meet, talk, and have a nice time. While all of these are involved, the major highlight has to be getting that concrete exchange to move you forward personally or move your business or company forward.

It can be many things, a job offer, a recommendation letter, winning over an investor, etc. Whatever it is, when you ask them, make sure you are proposing something beneficial to both parties.

After all, the best types of relationships are mutual relationships.

Conclusion

Networking isn’t as difficult as many people make it seem. The problem that we encounter with it is mostly because we’re used to and are more willing to communicate over the phone than in-person.

Breaking that barrier is the first step to successful in-person networking.

About author

Leon Collier is an essay writer from the UK who offers professional thesis writing service. He loves to write about everything: pop-culture, history, travel, self-development, education, marketing. When not writing, you can find him behind a book or playing tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.