Are You Ready? : Networking Tip

Every event is a networking event.

Every business meeting. Every conference. Every community forum. Every bridal shower. Every long supermarket line. Every group of parents standing around waiting for kids after school. They are all events. Each an opportunity to network.

It’s not just the truth according to the Brain of Bryn. It is THE truth.

My recommendation. BE READY!

Ready with your business card. Ready with your pitch. Ready with your career ideas. Ready with your latest priorities in terms of career progression.

WARNING:  YOU WON’T LEAD WITH ANY OF THIS.

You simply need to be ready with answers to questions such as: What do you need next in your career? Who do you need to be introduced to? What information do you need to research a potential opportunity? What do you do best? How do your skills translate? What industry are you exploring? Where are you moving?

With answers to these questions in your arsenal, you will feel far more confident when you approach someone with a smile or handshake, greet someone with a wave or strike up the small talk.

No one likes to “network” with someone who pushes a business card in their face, leads with “buy my stuff” or “what can you do for me?” or feigns familiarity in order to get a much-wanted connection to that person’s network. IMMEDIATE turn-off.

However, investing time to have the conversation naturally move in a direction (now or during a future conversation) that allows you to talk about your career transition and reveal more about you, etc. is a completely different story. You want to be ready. When that person you just met or got to know better says, “How can I help you?” or “What do you need?” all that preparation will serve you well.

Confidence. You will know what to ask for. The networking jitters will fall away. You will be able to articulate where you are in your career transition and identify how your next steps might progress with that person’s help.

You delight them with being YOU. And the opportunities for genuine conversation and networking simply spring forward.