Business Building 101: Networking Events shouldn’t be like going for root canal
To me there is nothing worse than going to a “networking event.” More often than not they are anything but networking; it’s usually some event where people are just trying to tell me how wonderful they are or hoping to sell me something; too often under the “guise” that they want to help me. I also find that not enough people really want to take the relationship beyond the networking event to a one-on-one meeting somewhere. But you do see them Tweeting or Facebooking about the next networking event they’re attending.
The people I really feel sorry for are employees who are mandated to go to such events as part of their job with no understanding of why they are really there. You usually see them roaming aimlessly, standing by the beverage counter or checking their phone every 8 seconds.
I think the thing that aggravates me is that I try to follow the premise of networking which is see how you can help someone else (for free; to a point; you gotta let people know when they’ve overextended your free help) and that’s how you’ll get recognized and rewarded.
In premise that sounds great; but what if everyone in the room tried to do it the right way; then it would be equally as frustrating as we all fought with one another to be helpful.
So I guess someone has to be the one who tells you how great they are and someone has to be the listener. And until I train myself to be a self-centered egotistical networker I guess I’ll have to be the listener.
Or maybe not…………………………..
As much as I get nauseous, stomach pains and heart palpitations when I think about that networking event, I decided to make it a game. What if I came up with a couple of questions that appeared I was interested in the other person but really were about me and my business?
For example, these days I might ask these two questions:
- Tell me what marketing techniques are working for you? (usually requires a follow-up question where I question how that might work for my business)
- I then ask them to tell me about their best social media success/strategy.
Now I only take this approach when it is clear you are rambling on and on.
So if you and I meet at a networking event and I appear not to be listening you’re probably right. I’ve trained myself to turn off all the egotistical chatter as my head spins figuring out what to do with the information you’ve just given me.
Or who knows I might get lucky and you’ll take an interest in me.
