A few years have rolled by since I went to a presentation on networking by Robyn Henderson. I still successfully use these eight strategies to great advantage. Let me share them with you.
1. When you get an invitation - whether it be for a conference, seminar, networking event - don't decide if you want to go solely based on what the speaker /topic will be. Instead think about who is going to be there:
• Peers
• Customers
• Competition
• Prospects
This will change your decision process and make these functions much more attractive because of whom you can meet, network with and learn from.
2. People will think you're interesting if you ask them interesting questions. Here's a trick: move from past to present to future questions. For example:
• Past - So you've been with the company x years. What changes have you seen?
• Present - What challenges do you have?
• Future - What trends do you foresee?
3. If you're speaking with someone and want to move on, look for another person / group nearby. Say "Oh they / that person looks interesting. Let's ask them to join us". Then act like a host and introduce whom you're with stating their name, and an interesting piece of information about them (as a talking point). As they start to converse, make your exit.
4. Help them remember your name better
Studies show people often forget the first 15 seconds of a conversation so they have already forgotten who you are. At a natural pause in the conversation casually drop in "You may not have caught my name earlier. It ..."
