8 Tips for Successful Business Networking

For many people, business networking is about getting out of your comfort zone and interacting with a group of strangers. Here are 8 tips to make the process easier.

1. Prepare for the event - Being well prepared not only makes you feel more comfortable, it also keeps you focused on what you want to accomplish. Do your research before you attend to learn who will be there. Then, decide what you want to get from the session and what you can give. Practice answering the question “What do you do for a living?” until you are 100% comfortable responding.
   
   
2. Be friendly and positive - People are drawn to others who are friendly and positive. They don’t want to hear complaints about how bad your day is going, how uncomfortable you feel, or that you don’t have time for this.
   
   
3. Be confident and believe in yourself - If you don’t believe in yourself, why should others? Make sure to offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. You offer a valuable service helping others achieve their goals, so be confident in your abilities.
   
   
4. Wear comfortable clothes - It’s virtually impossible to feel comfortable in an event if you’re preoccupied your clothes.
   
   
5. Sit with strangers - Keep in mind that you came to the event to meet other people, so if you only talk with those you came with, you’ll never meet anyone new. Make it a point to talk with five new people and sit with strangers during the main event.
   
   
6. Introduce yourself to the speakers, and panelists - Most speakers and panelists try to feel out their audience before speaking, so they’re usually happy to talk with audience members before the panel.
   
   
7. Ask questions - Once your speaker or panel is finished, ask a question during the Q&A section. By asking a question, you single yourself out and for a moment, become the audience’s main focus. Your question may spark discussion with other participants afterwards and create new opportunities for you to meet others.
   
   
8. Be a connector - Connectors look for commonalities between the people they talk with and then introduce the people they’ve met. If you talk with two people from the same hometown or with similar interests, introduce the two.
   
   

Of these, I’d say that keeping a positive outlook throughout is probably the most important. Perception is reality, so if you choose to stay upbeat and find opportunity, you will.