The greatest advice for networking in a wide array of contexts

Networking is an ability which can benefit you read more across various contexts; keep reading to find out more

Networking is a skill which comes in handy throughout a range of different contexts, both on a personal level and a professional level. To get better at networking, it is essential to understand how to prepare for a networking event beforehand. Rather than just show up to the function and wing-it, one of the most suitable networking tips for beginners is to do some research earlier. If possible, find any key people that could be going to the function, do a tiny bit of background research and attempt to gauge what their areas of interest are. By figuring out what industries they are in or businesses they are a part of you get a chance to think of what sort of inquiries you are eager to ask them. Effectively, being interesting and asking relevant inquiries is the key to sparking purposeful interactions, as individuals like Jane-Fraser are most likely to understand. It is also a great idea to prepare a bit of a pitch for yourself. This way when people direct inquiries at you, you are prepared to answer.

It may come as a shock, but the key to finding out how to be successful at networking events is what you do after the event. Usually, many people have some promising conversations at networking events but then wind up never seeing that person ever again. To avoid this, one of the best networking tips for professionals is to follow up with as many people as feasible. Attempt to stay in touch by following them on their professional social media networks. You can even send a personalised and genuine message or email to the people that you met and had conversations with. This could form the basis of a possibly mutually beneficial business relationship, as individuals like Jamie Dimon would certainly validate.

When it comes to networking events, it is very normal to have some apprehension beforehand. Often, the most difficult element of the procedure is approaching people. They may be in the middle of discussions with other individuals, so it can be hard finding out how to start a conversation at a networking event. Generally-speaking, it is all about how you present yourself to other individuals. As an example, make eye contact, smile at individuals and have open body language. When introducing yourself, ensure to use a firm handshake and talk with self-assurance. Demonstrate to the individual that you are paying attention to what they are saying and listen actively to their expertise and know-how, as individuals like Nasser Al-Khelaifi would agree. Rather than concentrating on gathering business cards, try to prioritise building relationships and making human connections. Some suitable networking event conversation starters include basic icebreakers like 'what brings you to this event?' or industry-specific topics of debate.