Kim Brushaber, CEO of Bridge ATX and Director of Networking for Austin Career Coaching presented in the 2pm slot at today’s Product Camp Austin. I really enjoyed her presentation a lot, and the notes below are my recap of what I heard in the session.
Slides: http://www.BridgeATX.com/NetworkLikeAPro_PCA10.ppt
First & foremost, a networker should set a networking goal.
If you’re at a 2 hour mixer, you could choose any of the following goals.
- Networking practice x 10. Your introductory speech, your pitch, talking to different people.
- Rapport x 10. Not built overnight. Its rare to feel like you’ve known someone forever immediately. Re-engage 10 people you already know and further your relationship with them.
- Information Gathering x 5. What’s going on in XYZ? Be it green energy or agile development, find 5 people who can give you some information on that topic.
- Targeted Company x 5. An employer, a competitor, or your own company. Get as much information as you can about a specific company.
- Targeted Individual. A board member, a speaker or maybe just someone who is often at particular types of events.
Once engaged in a conversation, a networker should do the following:
- Introducing yourself. Name, title, company and 2 sentences — its gotta be short & sweet, basic, humorous or memorable… and explain your value.
- The meat of the conversation — goals or stories. Choose your path: basic, memorable or detailed?
- Closing the conversation — never be a stage five clinger. And perfect “the art of escape” so that you can break free from those than are. Leave even the BEST conversation after 5 to 8 minutes — and set up some one on one time with that person so that you’ll get their devoted attention and be able to give them yours.
- The art of follow up. Treat it like dating — if you’re interested, contact them, because energy is killed over time. Make it easy to help you and allow for a graceful bailout.
Insights from the Q&A:
- Sending them something – a link that may interest them, or something like that – creates a call for reciprocity.
- Don’t send mass emails. People can sense it.
- Choose a single personality. Maybe you’re a job-seeker
Where to network. Find at least 2 events each month that you’re going to commit to returning to. You can find these events at the following websites…
- www.bridgeatx.com
- www.networkinaustincom
- www.door64.com
See also
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