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Networking Information |
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Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking And How To Overcome Them
The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business. Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships. These occasions are critical for anyone who wants to grow a business or promote a career. Many people are simply not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversations. Here are five common stumbling blocks that you may face and tips to help you overcome them. A RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO STRANGERS. You were taught at an early age not to speak to people you don't know. It's not safe. In certain situations today this is still good advice. In business, however, talking to strangers is a way to generate interest and support for your products and services. If you only talk to the people you already know, you will miss out on opportunities to make new connections and establish valuable contacts. To get past your discomfort in talking to strangers, set a goal for yourself before you attend any networking event. Decide how many new contacts you want to make or how many strangers you want to meet. In some cases, you may specifically target individuals whom you'd like to know. Next come up with some icebreakers or conversation starters. Have questions prepared that you can ask anyone you meet at the event. You may want to inquire about other people's business, their connection to the sponsoring organization or their opinion of the venue. LACK OF A FORMAL INTRODUCTION. It's much easier to make a new contact when there is someone else to handle the introduction and pave the way. If you wait for another person to make the move you may not meet anyone. At networking events, the goal is to meet as many people as possible. This is the time to take the bull by the horns, walk up to people you don't know, introduce yourself and start a conversation. You can do this if you have prepared your self-introduction in advance. You will not introduce yourself the same way on every occasion. Perhaps it is your first time to attend an association meeting. In that case, you might want to say that as part of your introduction. Let people know who you are, why you are there and give them a reason to ask more abut you. FEAR OF BEING SEEN AS PUSHY. You may think that you will turn people off if you are assertive and that if they want to talk to you, they will make the first move. If this is your line of thinking you will find yourself spending your time alone at the reception or meeting function and leaving without a single new connection. Being open, friendly and interested does not turn people off. You will not come across as overly aggressive if you seek out the "approachable" people. These are the ones who are standing alone or who are speaking in groups of three or more. Two people talking to each other are not approachable because they may be having a private conversation and you would be interrupting. THINKING THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE YOU. There is always the risk that the other person is not interested in you and doesn't want to meet or talk to you. It happens. If that is the case, don't take it personally. Nothing ventured is nothing gained. When you get a cold shoulder, smile, move on and say to yourself, "Next?" HAVING YOUR INTENTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD. Approaching someone of the opposite sex to begin a conversation may seem more like flirting than networking. This is more of an issue for women than men. Women have an equal place in the work arena and need to make professional connections the same as men do. Women in business can no longer afford to hold back when there is opportunity at hand. Neither men nor women will have their motives misinterpreted if they present themselves professionally in their attire and if they keep the conversation focused on business issues or topics that are not personal or private. Whatever your stumbling blocks, face them before the next networking event and devise a personal plan for getting past them. Once you do, you will find yourself connecting with confidence and courtesy on every occasion and the results will be reflected in your bottom line. (c) 2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved. Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at lydia@mannersthatsell.com or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com.
MORE RESOURCES: July 29 – Holly Area Chamber Networking Breakfast Oakland County Times Networking on Slack Is a New Way to Find a Job, but It Takes Work The Wall Street Journal Networking key to successful job search Continuing Studies Top Enterprise Networking Companies 2022 EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet The Worldwide Time-Sensitive Networking Industry is Expected to Reach $1.8 Billion by 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com Business Wire What is an Enterprise Network? EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet 7 Enterprise Networking Challenges EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet What is Software Defined Networking? EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet Outlook on the Time-Sensitive Networking Global Market to 2027 - 5G Time-Sensitive Networking Presents Opportunities Yahoo Finance Waskom Chamber of Commerce hosts networking event Marshall News Messenger First Responders Need Data. Can LTE Networks Come to the Rescue? US Department of Commerce Can SONiC be the Linux of Networking? The Register 5 Tactics for Attending Networking Events Advertising Specialty Institute Reconnecting at in-person networking conferences TheFabricator.com Take a Measured Approach to Software-Defined Networking FedTech Magazine Beyond basketball: Summer League is NBA’s networking summit Las Vegas Review-Journal LGBTQ+ networking group keeps Pride alive year round Delaware First Media Top 5 Simple Networking Tips for Students StudyinCanada.com! Farm Data Relay System: Combine LoRa And 2.4 Ghz Networks Without WiFi Routers And Cloud Dependence Hackaday Microsoft finds Raspberry Robin worm in hundreds of Windows networks BleepingComputer The Home Depot Adopts HPE GreenLake for Aruba Networking and Aruba ESP to Drive Enhanced Customer and Associate Experiences Business Wire Key skills to overcome fear of networking The New Times Extreme Networks Makes Networking More Flexible, Intelligent and Secure with Suite of New Solutions Business Wire Networking club explores new ways to engage others The Star Online Anonymous Social Networking Software Market is Going to Boom | Tencent, MOMO, Tantanapp Digital Journal IoT Use Cases in 2022 EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet Morgan Stanley rates the rivals scrabbling for campus networking share (NASDAQ:CSCO) - Seeking Alpha Networking scheme helps minority ethnic nurses to thrive Nursing Times Henderson Chamber of Commerce to Host Networking Breakfast: On a Roll – Local Gaming Update With M Resort Spa Casino Leadership Nevada Business Magazine Significant Trends in Communication and Networking ICs market with Top Key Vendors, Types, End-users and region – Designer Women Designer Women Future Prospects of Wireless Networking Market by 2029 | D-Link, Netgear, Netcore – Designer Women Designer Women Home Networking Device Market is Booming Worldwide with Mechoshade Systems, Schneider Electric, Watt Stopper – Designer Women Designer Women "It's not who you know, it's who knows you." Panel of CEOs emphasizes importance of networking madison365.com Northrop Grumman to build Space Force prototype for cyber protection of satellite networks Breaking Defense The future of social networking apps Times of India Palo Alto Networks stays MS's top security stock as survey highlights 'durable' demand Seeking Alpha Upload speeds lag in Phoenix during mobile networks tests Arizona's Family Hive Crypto Social Networking Platform Price Rallies 16%, Volume up 14,000% Business 2 Community EXCLUSIVE NETWORKS: Disclosure of the Total Number of Voting Rights and Shares Forming the Share Capital as at 30 June 2022 Business Wire New Strategic report on Social Networking Tools Market Growth, analysis and Forecast to 2026 – Designer Women Designer Women Ribbon Cutting for Space Development Agency's First Ground Operations and Integration Center in Grand Forks Kevin Cramer Lessons learned from the best run supply chain networks FOOD Magazine - Australia Advent One acquires Layer 8 Networks, complements hybrid cloud offering ChannelLife New Zealand Mexican networks ramp up help for US women seeking abortions The Associated Press - en Español S'pore, US launch networking programme for women in tech The Straits Times T-Mobile shuts down its 3G networks Land Line Media Regional Sports Networks Plot Streaming Future Without Pay TV Bundle Hollywood Reporter These Essential Networking Finds Boost Digital Equity, School Capacity and Speed EdTech Magazine: Focus on K-12 7 types of networks and their use cases TechTarget Why Networking Matters More Than Ever Chicago Booth Review 6 types of enterprise networking topologies TechTarget Networking online: how to make professional connections remotely and why it matters The Conversation 3 Industrial Networking Trends Automation World Essential networking tips to help you win new opportunities in 2022 The CEO Magazine 5 Top Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Trends Enterprise Storage Forum What's the status of AI in networking? TechTarget Top Computer Networking Jobs & Salaries 2022 | ENP EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet |
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