 At the end of last month, we presented “4 Steps for Improved Networking in the New Year.” With this blog post, we’re going to reveal some simple tricks when it comes to face-to-face networking.
As we’ve mentioned before on numerous occasions, part of enjoying employment success and having a great career is effective networking. Of course, not everybody excels at networking. Some people love it, and some people do not. Regardless of which category you’re in, improving your networking efforts is necessary for connecting with more people, uncovering more opportunities, and ultimately advancing your career. That’s why it’s important to maximize your face-to-face meetings, and with the help of Fortune magazine, we’re going to show you how to do just that. Below are three tricks for improving your face-to-face networking: #1—Introduce yourself first, if possible. You’ll find that this helps to take the pressure off you immediately. Once you’ve introduced yourself, you can focus more fully on the other person. Being able to focus when meeting somebody for the first time is crucial. It allows you to meet the other person’s gaze, smile warmly, and shake their hand in a confident manner. People respond positively to confidence. #2—Make the other person’s name instantly memorable. Being able to focus also allows you to remember the person’s name more easily. However, there is still some work you must do to make the name “stick.” One technique is to think of other people you know who have the same name as the person you’re meeting. Then, once you’ve done that, think of their faces and then link those faces to the face in front of you. Later, all you have to do is conjure up the faces of people you already know to remember the name of this person! #3—Use their name often during your encounter. Conventional wisdom dictates that you should use the other person’s name at least three times during the course of the conversation: at the beginning, sometime in the middle, and then at the end. However, depending upon the length of the conversation, you could certainly use their name morethan three times. Using it up to five times is acceptable, although you should be careful not to overuse it. While that could help you to remember it later, it could also present a “red flag” to the other person. (At the very least, it might be somewhat awkward.) Use these simple tricks the next time you network with somebody in person. Practice them with each encounter, and you’ll be sure to improve over time. More effective networking leads to more opportunities, which can lead to better jobs and a more satisfying career. If you’re currently looking for a new job, we invite you to look through our jobs and apply for one online today! Comments are closed.
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