North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact: Networking 101

I’m a bit of a networking expert. I’ve been a networker my entire professional career and for years taught the basics of networking. Here are some tips:

1) Pick events carefully. This can be tricky for those who are new to networking and unaware of opportunities but ask around your industry peers, event sites like Eventbrite and local sites. It may take you a few “dates” to find the right group but once you do, you’ll be off and running. 

2) Be early and be prepared. It’s not called net-social, net-chatter or net-eat. It’s network. Show up on time or even early to meet those coming into the event. Also, wear a name tag worn on the right side, so when you extend your right arm for a handshake, the person’s line of eye goes from hand to face therefore catching your name tag along the way.  

3) Business cards. Do them! Period. Collect and write on the back something that stood out about the contact. You’ll see why at No. 4. 

4) Have your elevator pitch ready. An elevator pitch is a brief (think 30 seconds!) way of introducing yourself, getting across a key point or two, and making a connection with someone. It's called an elevator pitch because it takes roughly the amount of time, you'd spend riding an elevator with someone you want to connect with. 

5) Go! If you hate small talk, there’s good news: Research shows most people prefer intimate conversations, even meeting for the first time. In the article, “A Better Approach to Networking,” author Christie Hunter Arscott shares a few examples of conversation starters you can use to avoid boring small talk. 

• Instead of: What do you do? 

Try: What do you think is the most valuable part of your work — to yourself and others? What problems do you want to help others solve? What aspects of your work do you enjoy most and why? What do you enjoy least and why? 

• Instead of: What is your current role? 

Ask: What roles and positions have led you to where you are today? Which ones taught you the most? 

• Instead of: Where are you from? 

Ask: What places have you lived in and traveled to through your career or studies? Which ones have had the biggest impact on you? Which was your favorite and why? 

6) Follow up. This is where most people drop the ball. Within 24 hours of your attendance, create your follow-up plan and execute it. Email, text, phone calls and/or the all-impressive handwritten note need to happen to make your networking a success. By making this a habit, you will be creating a database of contacts, growing your referral network and build deep genuine connection with people who can expand your business.  

The Women of Impact Leadership Roundtable meets once a month for a nine-month series beginning each September-May. Our details are at www.theniallaince.com or join https://www.facebook.com/groups/972216519983800.

Next up: Perk it Up Speed networking Sept. 10, 9-11 a.m. at the Kroc Center (open to men and women alike!)

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Marilee Wallace, IOM, president/CEO of the North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact. The Women of Impact Leadership Roundtable meets once a month for a nine-month series, and we base our monthly agenda on the word IMPACTED. She can be reached at marilee@theniallaince.com.