The following article that I wrote appeared in a recent issue of Soho Magazine.
Making a Genuine Impression
How you interact with people is an important component of networking. When you meet people, make sure to leave a good impression by acting genuine. You do not want to have a bad reputation in networking and business circles.
Give Your Full Attention
When talking with people, make sure to give them your full attention by staying focused on the entire conversation. Do not let your eyes wander as you might come across as disinterested or rude. Ask thought-provoking questions to show you are listening and you actually care about what’s being said.
People like to talk about themselves and their businesses so give them the opportunity. Try not to interrupt and let others finish their thoughts or sentences before speaking.
Of course, times may occur when you don’t want to continue a conversation. When that happens, politely excuse yourself. You want to build a reputation as a good conversationalist so people will enjoy talking with you.
Talk With Enthusiasm
When it’s your turn to talk, show some enthusiasm. Many people speak with little emotion, so make yourself stand out by showing some animation in your voice and actions.
By showing some excitement, people will tend to listen more closely to what you have to say. Not only will enthusiasm inspire people to listen, but it also will show that you have a passion for what you do, both professionally and personally.
Say Cheese
By smiling, you will make people feel welcome and make yourself more approachable. As a result, your conversations will feel more comfortable and natural with others.
Smiling shows that you are generally a happy person, which signifies that your conversations will most likely be positive. People generally don’t want to talk with negative individuals.
Help Others
One of the most important aspects of networking is offering to help others. Before you ask for help, you should first offer your services to others.
Whether it’s industry information, business consulting or connections, everyone has something to share. By figuring out how your resources can help other people, you will make yourself a more valuable person to know.
If you’re typically a taker rather than a giver, then you will have a much harder time with networking. People won’t readily offer their help to you until you have built a trusted relationship with them.
Share Resources
Part of helping others is the sharing of resources – whether it’s information, connections, knowledge or expertise. You should have something to offer for the benefit of others because of your work experience and general business knowledge.
Don’t sell yourself short. Your skills and knowledge will be helpful to someone. Think about what you can offer and compile your resources together so you can easily share them with people.
Another important resource is your contacts. Make sure your contact information is organized, so you can easily draw upon your network when you need to. Your contacts are a big part of your resources. Use them wisely.
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