Networking at Events!

Now that attendance at events continue their rise, let's review the necessary mindset when attending these crucial career advancement opportunities. 

Want to know some GOOD TIPS and QUESTIONS?

Read on!

Frequently networking is aligned with a speaking engagement or a panel of speakers.  In recent months, as I've attended events, I've noticed a decrease in engagement amongst attendees.  You can blame it on COVID, social media, cell phone addiction, whatever—it is real.  Keep in mind, that you came to the event to possibly learn something new. So prior to the speaking section of the meeting (you know the part where you get the free food), put your "learning hat" on, and begin engaging with fellow attendees. 

Follow these TIPS:

• Get to the networking part of the event at the scheduled time.  Not early and not late.  When you get there on time, you should find folks to engage with (you only need one other person, to start a conversation), as anyone else who's on time or early is usually there for the same reasons you are attending. 
• Make your conversations meaningful.  If you have 30 minutes; it is better to have two 15-minute conversations, than six 5-minute conversations. However, if the person you are speaking with offers little to no professional value, then politely move on. 
• Rarely have I been at a networking event where the attendees talk about how great the food is.  So, don't stuff your face, find foods that can be eaten easily or don't eat at all.  If it is a night time event, don't drink excessively or don't drink at all. 
• This may sound old school, yet have a few business cards readily available.  Yes, I still have hundreds of cards from ones I bought years ago, yet sometimes people just like to have a business card.  When collecting information, ask the fellow attendee how they like to communicate moving forward and would they be open to accepting your LinkedIn invitation?
• If you are part of a larger group attending an event, consider excusing yourself from that group and choose to sit at a table of "unknown to you" attendees. You can learn a lot and gather a lot of information from people you never met.

So now you are at this event, you have your attendee badge hanging from your lanyard and you want to have a smart sounding, yet not overly complicated question ready to begin your conversation. 

Here are SEVEN open-ended QUESTIONS that will lead to a learning and engagement opportunity for you:

• What brought you here today?
• How do you fit into this industry's eco-system?
• What are you looking to accomplish at this event?
• What are some of your biggest challenges in business currently?
• How has your business changed since the Pandemic?  What trends do you see and/or anticipate?
• Is there anyone at the event today, who you look forward to meeting or hear presenting?
• What makes your company different/better than your competition?

At first, use these sorts of openers, then listen to your responses and go deeper with other relevant questions.  In the beginning of a new conversation, avoid topics about salary, where you went to school, politics or superficial nonsense like the weather.

Be yourself, be genuine, be sincere and remember you can never learn too much from a networking event.