Networking

The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business. Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships. These occasions are critical for anyone who wants to grow a business or promote a career.

Many people are simply not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversations. Here are five common stumbling blocks that you may face and tips to help you overcome them.

A RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO STRANGERS. You were taught at an early age not to speak to people you don’t know. It’s not safe. In certain situations today this is still good advice. In business, however, talking to strangers is a way to generate interest and support for your products and services. If you only talk to the people you already know, you will miss out on opportunities to make new connections and establish valuable contacts.

To get past your discomfort in talking to strangers, set a goal for yourself before you attend any networking event. Decide how many new contacts you want to make or how many strangers you want to meet. In some cases, you may specifically target individuals whom you’d like to know.

Next come up with some icebreakers or conversation starters. Have questions prepared that you can ask anyone you meet at the event. You may want to inquire about other people’s business, their connection to the sponsoring organization or their opinion of the venue.

LACK OF A FORMAL INTRODUCTION. It’s much easier to make a new contact when there is someone else to handle the introduction and pave the way. If you wait for another person to make the move you may not meet anyone. At networking events, the goal is to meet as many people as possible.

This is the time to take the bull by the horns, walk up to people you don’t know, introduce yourself and start a conversation. You can do this if you have prepared your self-introduction in advance.

You will not introduce yourself the same way on every occasion. Perhaps it is your first time to attend an association meeting. In that case, you might want to say that as part of your introduction. Let people know who you are, why you are there and give them a reason to ask more abut you.

FEAR OF BEING SEEN AS PUSHY. You may think that you will turn people off if you are assertive and that if they want to talk to you, they will make the first move. If this is your line of thinking you will find yourself spending your time alone at the reception or meeting function and leaving without a single new connection. Being open, friendly and interested does not turn people off.

You will not come across as overly aggressive if you seek out the “approachable” people. These are the ones who are standing alone or who are speaking in groups of three or more. Two people talking to each other are not approachable because they may be having a private conversation and you would be interrupting.

THINKING THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE YOU. There is always the risk that the other person is not interested in you and doesn’t want to meet or talk to you. It happens. If that is the case, don’t take it personally. Nothing ventured is nothing gained. When you get a cold shoulder, smile, move on and say to yourself, “Next?”

HAVING YOUR INTENTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD. Approaching someone of the opposite sex to begin a conversation may seem more like flirting than networking. This is more of an issue for women than men. Women have an equal place in the work arena and need to make professional connections the same as men do. Women in business can no longer afford to hold back when there is opportunity at hand.

Neither men nor women will have their motives misinterpreted if they present themselves professionally in their attire and if they keep the conversation focused on business issues or topics that are not personal or private.

Whatever your stumbling blocks, face them before the next networking event and devise a personal plan for getting past them. Once you do, you will find yourself connecting with confidence and courtesy on every occasion and the results will be reflected in your bottom line.

(c) 2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved.

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors’ Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman’s Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at lydia@mannersthatsell.com or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com.

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As the networking site LinkedIn takes off - with over 4.2 million members as of December, 2005 - users are starting to tire of the standard “boilerplate” invitations (the ones that members use when they want to invite their friends to “connect” on LinkedIn). So, to switch up the verbiage a bit and have some fun, here are some customized LinkedIn invitations in the Styles Of…

VALLEY GIRL

I’m like, totally using this LinkedIn thing, and
it’s like, everyone’s doing it and if you’re like, not
connected, you’re like, so not even ANYONE. So I’m all “let’s connect,” and you like only have to hit this one button and stuff, so like do it, and let’s GET TO KNOW SOME PEOPLE!!

THE SOPRANOS

So boss,

You want we should connect, a what? Dis guy, behind
da guy, he knows a guy and he wants we should talk to dis guy, in Jersey, so get connected over here and we’ll do dis ting. Bada bing, bada boom. Click on the link. Fuhgeddaboutit.

Paulie “Links”

HAIKU

The unconnected person
waits for the invite:
connection. It’s here. Join us!

OLD TESTAMENT

And so it came to pass that the word spread,
and the blessings came down upon the people, and
spread throughout the nations. And the prophet
said, “Let us connect,” and one unto the
other they connected, they of the first degree and of the
second, and lo, all the degrees thereof. And so
the people connected, one to another,
each according to his needs and his unique selling
proposition, and it was good.

MOOD SWING

I can’t tell you if you still like me. I know you’re busy, so don’t be mad at me for asking, but do you HATE ME or what? I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’m such a loser. What is your problem? Why are you such a jerk to me?

Do you want to CONNECT? Only if you want to. Probably you don’t. It’s okay. You hate me. I can tell. Do you want to connect though? Click on the link. Okay, don’t. Just be your arrogant self. Die.

RISQUE

I saw your profile and I must say, it’s spicy…you seem like a person who knows a lot about….life. You’re so — accomplished. You’ve got that smoky air of success about you. I read your profile over and over and tried to picture your resume, and believe me, I did, and I couldn’t sleep afterwards. And people are attracted to you, it’s obvious. You’ve connected with a lot of people, haven’t you? There’s something dangerous about you. I want to connect with you RIGHT NOW - can you feel it?

MOTHER GOOSE

Higgledy piggledy, my LinkedIn
Bring your whole address book in!

Austin, Boston, Rome, Berlin,

Globally, mobile-ly, my LinkedIn.

MOM

Oh hello dear,

Is this how you do this? Tell me if you get this. Am I doing this right? I want to invite you to - what? This is so complicated. Honey, I just can’t keep you with all your fancy websites and gadgets. I have to be honest, the digital camera you bought your father for Christmas in 1999 is still in the box. You’re such a bright boy. We’re so proud of you, sweetheart. What about that girl you mentioned at Aunt Janet’s 80th birthday party, are you still seeing her? I don’t mean to pry. There was something I was supposed to ask you - oh yes, do you want to click with me? Clink? Link? Or whatever it’s called. Connect. Oh yes, that’s it. How silly, to connect with your mother! Do you still listen to Earth, Wind & Fire? You loved them in high school.

Love,

Mom

Liz Ryan is a writer and entrepreneur, an expert on the workplace and networking, and the CEO of WorldWIT, the world’s largest online network for professional women. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

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