Networking evenings work best when you arrive with a plan. These simple habits will help you leave with useful contacts instead of a pocket full of unread business cards.
Before you go
Decide what you want: a supplier, a client, advice or simply new friends. Prepare a ten-second introduction that says what you do and who you help. Bring a few cards, but do not rely on them.
In the room
Arrive early, when the room is small and conversations are easy to join. Ask open questions such as “what are you working on this month?” and listen to the answer. Aim for three or four good conversations rather than twenty quick ones.
Afterwards
Within two days, send a short note to each person you met. Mention something you talked about and suggest a simple next step, like a coffee or an introduction. Add them to your contact list with a note about what they do.
- Wear your name tag on the right so it is easy to read.
- Offer help before asking for it.
- Thank the organisers and the volunteers.
The chamber’s corporate networking evenings include a round of one-minute introductions, so practise your short pitch. The learning library has a short course called Networking That Works if you would like more guidance.