At an evening event yesterday for students and professionals at a local university, I was asked to interact with students. The object for several of us professionals was to indirectly coach the soon-to-graduate students.
The one thing that kept coming up was: have a strategy.
A short list of things to include in your networking event strategy toolbox:
- Know when to arrive–early, on time, a little late.
- Know who you want to meet.
- Know how long you will talk with people–not too little or too long.
- Listen actively.
- Share information, don’t dominate or give in, either.
- Know how to engage and disengage.
- Follow up.
Basic stuff but it is what a successful networking event is all about.
Relentless
