Were You Able to Attend Our Networking Event?

Thanks to everyone who attended the August 20 Networking Event. People learned and fine-tuned networking skills AND met some new people to build their networks.

It was a fun and productive event, and we had coverage from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and WHAM TV 13. Several of us were interviewed by Rachel Barnhart. http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Job-Hunters-Turn-to-Social-Networking/w0f14LThCk6ixdxsUyKQaQ.cspx

We talked about having more events that would offer opportunities to meet more people. As you may know, in addition to serving the training needs of corporate clients, Training Insights, Inc. hosts these low cost events as a community service for individuals and job hunters. We will soon have a survey to get your ideas and interest levels on having us sponsor more events.

Check back soon and let us know how we can help you Make Your Contacts Count!

10 Quick and Easy Tips for Improving Your Networking Skills

1. Recognize that possibilities are endless.
Networking opportunities are everywhere and anytime (in addition to networking events and business meetings, the next person you meet at the grocery store could lead you to a new opportunity. Here are tips for improving your networking skills and confidence.

2. Have a Positive attitude. Smile.
If you’re feeling uneasy, uninterested – that unrest will ‘ooze out of your very pores’

3. Talk to people.
Rather than look down in the elevator, make eye contact and simply say hello! It’s ok to talk to people you haven’t met yet at work, concerts, shopping malls, festivals, and sporting events.

4. Be clear and succinct.
This is especially true when you’re asked “What do you do?” Keep it simple. This invites conversation from the person you’re talking to!
Memorize your BEST / TEST (What you do best, and a testimonial to that.)
Example:
BEST: I read between the lines on soup cans.
TEST: Last week I testified at a congressional hearing about the huge amounts of sodium in our food.

5. Give first, give generously.
Keep your expertise, enthusiasms, trends and resources at top of mind and be ready to share at the appropriate time.

6. Identify what you want to get.
85% of people attending networking events have no idea what they’d like to get out of the experience.

7. Listen sincerely.
Before you take your turn to talk about yourself, listen sincerely to find out all you can about that person. This is the foundation for meaningful and purposeful follow up.

8. Follow up.
This is where most people fail in networking. They do everything right, but don’t keep their word on following through with information promised!

9. Invite someone along.
If you’re planning to attend an association meeting, invite one of your contacts to meet you there so you can catch up. This is another easy way to follow up and to build relationships with people who have similar interests.

10. Keep learning.
Practice makes perfect. The more you talk to people, the more comfortable you get. Read books, go to events, take classes to continually improve your networking skills. You can always pick up new ideas and meet new people.

Now, get out there, talk to some new people, Make Your Contacts Count and have a fun weekend!

Sue Schnorr is President of Training Insights, Inc. and Associate for Contacts Count where she coaches people one-one-one and teaches strategic networking workshops, Webinars and keynotes.

Will we see you at the End of Summer Networking Bash?
Go to: www.training-inisights.com/events.htm for more information. To register now and hold your spot, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NetworkingBashAugust20

Are Your Networking Skills Working For You?

Are you tired of networking with people who don't seem to care? And if they act interested, you soon find out that perhaps they don't, because they don't follow up?

Follow up is the number 1 place where good networkers fall down. It's not a difficult skill to learn. It's quite easy, in fact. But, most people don't have a system that enables them to immediately, quickly and easily follow up with their networking peers.

If you don't follow up, your chances for building a relationship are severely diminished. If you don't build relationships, you don't have a very strong network. If you don't have a strong network, you don't have the resources to get the job you want, or to get your job done!

With today's easy access to people, information and online resources, it's easy to build a network of people who are interested in you and who will help you.

Don't miss that key factor.... follow up. Follow up begins when you are having a conversation. LISTEN GENEROUSLY to learn what that person is interested in. Find out what they are excited about. Listening is a key networking skill. If you haven't been getting the results you want from your networking efforts, talk less; listen more. Ask questions like, "What have you been working on lately?"

Make a point to follow up with at least one more person this week! If you do that, you will be 52X more likely to have people in your network that will help you get the bottom-line results you deserve!