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