Five Tips for Effective Networking Be the life of the party Justin Hartfield
1. Think of yourself as the host of the party, or featured speaker at an event. In football, the home team always has an advantage over the visitors. The home team is simply more comfortable playing on its own field than the away team. This comfort breeds familiarity, which begets confidence, which leads to less mistakes and more heroic feats. So in order to harness your own power of supreme confidence, act like you're literally the host of the party. When you meet people, say, "Hey, nice to meet you guys! Thanks for coming out." This is how you become the life of the party. Everyone will feel your warm attitude and it will become contagious. Suddenly, you will find yourself surrounded by other people who all want in on the good time you are purveying.
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be." - Kurt Vonnegut
2. Make an impression that will be remembered. A distinct visual style is a good way to leave an impression which can remember more easily (and more distinctly) than your words. Dress modishly and take (some) risks. Good fashion is successfully integrating your style with your mindset so both are in harmony. Just because you're in IT doesn't mean you have to wear IZOD knit shirts and Dockers to work every morning. You are allowed to keep up with modern fashion trends, without being blackballed completely from your weekly meetings for being too "Hollywood."
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."- Thomas Jefferson
3. If you make a verbal commitment, follow through as if it were written. I'm curious as to the percentage of verbal agreements which are actually carried out in this country. Every agreement that has ever been made and kept, whether at a bar, sporting event, funeral, bris, etc., divided by the number of agreements total. I think the number may be soberingly small, like a percentage similar to the size of a nanochip or the number of Texans who voted for the Green Party. If people actually followed through on the pledges they've made verbally, they would be shocked to find how rewarding it can be. Making an earnest effort on behalf of another, with no expectation or want for return, is held in high regard, particularly in business. So use some self-restraint, and stop making verbal promises you won't follow-up on. On those you do make, however, provide all of the effort to execute your end of the deal. Sometimes you'll get burned; your partner will flake or start backing out. Failure is inevitable; every successful businessman has suffered similar wastes of his time and resources on his way to the top. But keeping your own word is the best long-term investment.
"He who promises more than he is able to perform, is false to himself; and he who does not perform what he has promised, is a traitor to his friend."- George Shelley
4. Meet every single person. Over-thinking and over-reharsing what you are going to say will make you sound over-thought and over-reharsed. Instead, when you enter into a venue, focus on the single goal of meeting everyone: security guards, bartenders, event staff, the guy in the bathroom giving you a paper towel. (You're the host, remember? It would only be polite.) The more people you meet, the better chance you have of meeting someone who can help you. Greet, meet, and move on. Only stay to chat when the other party is begging for you to join them. Since you're meeting everyone, there will be ample opportunities for you to display your depth; you can afford to be choosy. The main benefit of meeting as many people as possible is that the next time you meet, you are already have an instant connection.
"Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead." - Charles M. Schwab
5. Smile. Meeting new people is supposed to be fun; try to make every interaction a positive one. If you're entering into a group, try to provide more positive energy then what you are sensing from the group. They will elevate to you. Smile like you own the place. Smile like the host of the party who's already downed five shoots of Grey Goose and its not even 11:30 PM. Smile to the people who can't help you the most. Thank them for their time, because you've squandered theirs just as much as your own.
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
