You’re at an event. You see an industry leader that you really want to connect with. You have a few seconds to catch their attention.
What do you do???
Last week I shared my 3-step planning framework for a successful networking event. (If you missed it, click here to catch up)
My previous email addressed how to start your outreach before you get to an event. But what happens when you’re actually there, trying to mingle, looking for those connections you reached out to beforehand?
It may be tempting to congregate with your co-workers and friends instead of venturing out to meet new people.
But some of my most fruitful industry relationships were made possible because I stepped out of my comfort zone.
Trust me—your opportunities to connect with someone new are out there, beyond the safety of familiar faces.
Here are my top tips for making those moments of connection a little less awkward.
The 30-Second Rule
When you first meet someone, you want to make a lasting impression. You might be the 50th person they’ve met that day! So if you don’t stand out, they might have trouble remembering you when you follow-up later.
To avoid this, I like to follow the 30-second rule:
In 30 seconds or less, you should be able to tell someone about yourself in a way that’s engaging and memorable.
Your 30-second intro should cover at least three things:
✅ Who you are.
✅ What you do.
✅ How you make a difference.
To get really good at your 30-second intro, write it down and practice it out loud until it flows naturally. Take your time, and test out different versions.
Okay… between you and me, I know that most of you won’t actually do this. But believe me when I say it truly makes a difference. Just do it!
After your intro, one of the best ways to get people talking is through engaging questions. Think of the conversation like a tennis match. To keep the game going, you need to volley the ball (a question) back to the other player. And hopefully they will play along by sending the ball (another question) back to you!
Be the person at the banquet table that gets the conversation popping by asking an interesting question. I’ve found the best conversation-starters are open-ended and thought-provoking, but not invasive.
If this is difficult for you, try jotting down a few ideas in advance and refer to them before you walk into an event. A person who asks great questions will make an impression and be remembered.
Putting It Into Practice
At this point, you might be feeling a little bit overwhelmed—but don’t leave yet!
Once we start to put all of the pieces together, we actually get a simple flow of what to do before, during, and after the event for effective networking.
Before the event:
Apply the 3-step outreach framework from last week’s email
- Build a vision of success.
- Identify your connections.
- Reach out to your connection list.
During the event:
Apply the methods we covered today:
- Step out of your comfort zone.
- Use your 30-second intro when meeting people.
- Ask good questions to encourage conversation.
After the event:
Make your work count! Don’t just wave goodbye after the event and wait for something to happen.
- Capture and organize your notes from all of your conversations.
- Follow-up with connections via email/text/socials.
- Assess your results and prepare for your next event.
Your networking skills will only get better with repetition. At first, it will feel really uncomfortable. But the more you practice by using these strategies, the more you will be able to reach out with confidence.