Most people are actually not very comfortable walking into a room filled with strangers. I can observe this again and again when starting my public seminars.
On the other hand, we need to recognize the importance of meeting new people and making more (business) friends; in other words network. New jobs are found through networking. Another concrete example, about 30% of my business is generated from networking. And I am, like most, a bit uncomfortable when entering a room filled with strangers.
Here are a few tips to get started:
1. Don’t look for people you know. Don’t start pulling out your phone to check the SMS’s. Approach strangers freely, introduce yourself.
2. Read the newspaper. Start a conversation with ‘Did you read xxxx in today’s paper?’ If they didn’t, you share the story; if they did, you can exchange opinions.
3. Ask open questions. An open question is formulated in a way that it cannot be answered with only ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. I like questions like – ‘What are the major challenges in your type of business / job?’ – ‘What are the latest developments in your industry?’ – ‘Why did you decide to come here?’
4. Be agreeable. A conversation flows much easier when you are basically agreeable and keep on asking for more information or details. If you have a different opinion, keep it to yourself for a while. Remember, you want to make friends.
5. Be curious. Observe the other person and if they wear something interesting or use an interesting gadget ask a question about it, e.g. ‘I see that you are using the new xxx mobile phone? Are you happy with it, any particular good features?’ Do you want to have a practice session on this? Try it out on a stranger next time when you are in a lift. If you make a fool of yourself, don’t worry. The stranger and you will go separate ways a few stops later. My bet is that you will not make a fool of yourself. You will have a little pleasant encounter with another human being. Both of you will feel a little bit more enriched.
6. Invite others to join your group. Let’s say your are engaged in a discussion with a group of people. You may sometimes experience people looking at or standing close to your group. ‘Eyeball’ that the person, open up a little gap in your group circle and invite that person to join your discussion. The person being invited by you to join the group will like you for that and you made one more contact.
7. Don’t ask the obvious. An example. I recently asked a friend, who is an expatriate, why he doesn’t join anymore our lunches by the German Chamber. His answer was: “I don’t want to answer anymore the same boring questions like – ‘How long are you in Singapore?’ or ‘What do you think of Singapore?” So, try to think of what would be the ‘standard (stale)’ questions in the particular environment you may be in and do not ask those.
Happy Networking. Remember, at times it may be a bit uncomfortable; however, it often leads to very enriching (working) relationships and / or deals.
On the other hand, we need to recognize the importance of meeting new people and making more (business) friends; in other words network. New jobs are found through networking. Another concrete example, about 30% of my business is generated from networking. And I am, like most, a bit uncomfortable when entering a room filled with strangers.
Here are a few tips to get started:
1. Don’t look for people you know. Don’t start pulling out your phone to check the SMS’s. Approach strangers freely, introduce yourself.
2. Read the newspaper. Start a conversation with ‘Did you read xxxx in today’s paper?’ If they didn’t, you share the story; if they did, you can exchange opinions.
3. Ask open questions. An open question is formulated in a way that it cannot be answered with only ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. I like questions like – ‘What are the major challenges in your type of business / job?’ – ‘What are the latest developments in your industry?’ – ‘Why did you decide to come here?’
4. Be agreeable. A conversation flows much easier when you are basically agreeable and keep on asking for more information or details. If you have a different opinion, keep it to yourself for a while. Remember, you want to make friends.
5. Be curious. Observe the other person and if they wear something interesting or use an interesting gadget ask a question about it, e.g. ‘I see that you are using the new xxx mobile phone? Are you happy with it, any particular good features?’ Do you want to have a practice session on this? Try it out on a stranger next time when you are in a lift. If you make a fool of yourself, don’t worry. The stranger and you will go separate ways a few stops later. My bet is that you will not make a fool of yourself. You will have a little pleasant encounter with another human being. Both of you will feel a little bit more enriched.
6. Invite others to join your group. Let’s say your are engaged in a discussion with a group of people. You may sometimes experience people looking at or standing close to your group. ‘Eyeball’ that the person, open up a little gap in your group circle and invite that person to join your discussion. The person being invited by you to join the group will like you for that and you made one more contact.
7. Don’t ask the obvious. An example. I recently asked a friend, who is an expatriate, why he doesn’t join anymore our lunches by the German Chamber. His answer was: “I don’t want to answer anymore the same boring questions like – ‘How long are you in Singapore?’ or ‘What do you think of Singapore?” So, try to think of what would be the ‘standard (stale)’ questions in the particular environment you may be in and do not ask those.
Happy Networking. Remember, at times it may be a bit uncomfortable; however, it often leads to very enriching (working) relationships and / or deals.
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