Introduction
I’m relatively new to networking and have been working with Launch for the past three months. During that time, I feel like I’ve gained enough experience through my own interactions, what I’ve observed from others, and the research I’ve had to do along the way to understand what makes networking effective.
Here are five tips I’ve picked up that I think can genuinely help anyone looking to improve how they approach networking events.
Tip 1
Aim to make one meaningful connection.
Why should we focus on this when attending networking meetings? The reason is simple, it allows us to show our humanity and present ourselves naturally rather than coming across like another businessperson trying to make a sale.
From the few events I’ve already been to, I’ve noticed there is nothing more engaging than genuine people. Natural charisma, awkward jokes, random side conversations, all of these things help sell you as a person rather than making you look like another drone trying to push a business. People connect with people first, not products.
Tip 2
Prioritise authenticity over small talk.
If you’re there to sell a product, then focus on selling the product, but do it in a genuine way. There are ways to promote what you do without sounding overly rehearsed or transactional.
People attend these events to meet like-minded individuals who can help their own business grow. If you spend five minutes talking purely about your personal life and theirs, you’ve likely wasted both of your time. More importantly, you reduce the opportunity to actually explain what you do, and you miss the chance to connect with other people in the room.
Tip 3
Focus on good conversations, not numbers.
When you’re trying to promote a business or product, the first instinct is usually to reach as many people as possible. On paper that sounds great, but in reality it often works against you.
If you focus too much on quantity over quality, you’re far more likely to turn people away. You may find yourself rushing to end conversations early or forcing your way into other discussions simply because you want to speak to more people. In doing that, you leave a negative impression on almost everyone you interact with.
A few meaningful conversations will always outperform dozens of forgettable ones.
Tip 4
Identify what truly motivates the people you meet.
If you can understand what motivates the people you’re speaking to, you can quickly figure out whether their goals align with you and your business. This saves both people time and allows you to either move on naturally or take the conversation further if there is genuine value there.
It also helps you come across as more authentic because you are actively trying to understand them and what drives their business. That immediately shows a level of interest that a lot of people fail to bring into networking conversations.
Tip 5
Prepare with purpose and ask thoughtful questions.
This is important because when meeting like-minded people, you want to present both yourself and your business in the best possible light. Constant pauses while trying to think of what to say next can make you appear unprepared, even if you are actually highly capable.
In contrast, going in prepared allows conversations to flow naturally. Not only does it make people more willing to engage with you, but it also allows you to meet more people because you already have a structured approach. That structure helps you quickly understand whether the person you’re speaking with is the right fit for you and your business.
Networking isn’t just about showing up and hoping something happens, it’s about being intentional with how you present yourself and how you interact with others.
Join us
If you want to put these tips into practice, come along to a meeting at Leigh Spinners Mill and try them out for yourself. You might be surprised how quickly small changes can improve the way you connect with people.
