Help, a networking meeting!

And ... were you able to find it easily? You also here with your work? Any inspiration today? These questions are great to get a conversation going with a stranger, but do you really want to get the most out of your networking meeting? These tips will help you!

Tip 1: Make sure you are well prepared

Good preparation is half the battle. That is why it is good to do research in advance: where exactly are you going? Is it a conference, a get-together or a course? Make sure you know well what the topic is and that you can talk about it.

In addition, it is smart to find out in advance who will be attending the networking meeting. Think about who you definitely want to talk to and how you are going to approach them. Is there someone you already know who you can introduce to them?

List for yourself what you want to accomplish at the meeting. If you are looking for a job, it is smart to get in touch with people in your field. If you want to gain knowledge about a particular subject, look for experts in that field.

If it's a physical networking event, also delve into the dress code. It would be a shame if you arrive in your jeans while everyone else in attendance is wearing a neat skirt or nice suit. If you think about this in advance, you will avoid awkward moments.

Finally, make sure you have some business cards with you, or have your Linkedin profile ready. That way you can connect with interesting people right away. Furthermore, do not bring too much stuff with you; full hands can make for awkward moments when you are offered something to drink.

Tip #2: Making contact, how do you do it?

Nothing as difficult as starting a conversation with a stranger. But, there are a few tricks that make it just a little easier. For example, during a physical event, adopt an open posture. Even if you are not talking to anyone for a moment, it is important to keep your head up and not cross your arms. If you adopt a closed posture, your nonverbal communication is basically saying, "don't get too close, I'm not much of a talker."

Are you having an online meeting? Then see what opportunities there are to connect with attendees. Often there is a chat where you can speak to someone in person. For example, start the conversation with a fun question about the theme of the meeting.

You can start with the people you already know. Starting a conversation with acquaintances is a lower barrier, but a good way to show that you are open to contact! If you are also eager to meet others, don't stick with the same people for too long. What you can do is ask if your acquaintances might be able to introduce you to their network.

See someone you really want to talk to? Then make sure you ask the first question yourself. That way you immediately take the lead in the conversation and are more likely to achieve what you want to achieve. Ask as many open-ended questions as possible and don't just answer yes or no yourself. That way, the first contact becomes a real conversation.

Listen to the other person when you ask a question and ask further. So don't run down a series of standard questions, but always pick up on what the other person is saying. This gives your conversation partner the feeling that you are sincerely interested and can lead to very nice conversations!

Try to agree on a follow-up! Networking meetings are primarily intended to establish initial contact. If it appears that you can do something for each other, it is often nicer to discuss this one on one. In that meeting you can get to know each other better and you can go straight to your goal!

Tip 3: Take action

Okay, the initial contact-making has succeeded. You're having a nice conversation and now you want to move toward completion to agree on a follow-up. But how do you do such a thing? Never offer your business card first, but first ask for the business card or LinkedIn profile of your conversation partner. With LinkedIn, you also have the other person directly in your network. If you ask for a business card, you will see that your conversation partner will ask the same question back.

Then ask if the other person would like to talk further in the future. That way, you will know immediately if your conversation partner is open to that and they will know that you are really interested and that they can expect an e-mail or phone call from you.

Tip 4: Pay attention to your new network after the networking meeting

Once home from the meeting, you're not done yet! This is precisely the time to stand out and reconnect with your new network. This way you will stand out and make sure that the contact will not be watered down.

Invite the people you spoke to on LinkedIn with a personal message. If you have already done so at the meeting, send them a personal message only. In it, talk about how you experienced contacting them and what you would like to do next (a follow-up meeting, for example). If you have a list in which you keep track of your contacts, be sure to include their details as well. That way you will always have their details to hand when you need them.

If you made promises during the meeting, keep them. For example, if you said you would call to make an appointment, do so. It's best to do this as soon as possible after the event so you both remember what you talked about.

Finally, of course, you don't want to dilute the contact. Therefore, for example, try to actively respond to status updates on your new contact's LinkedIn page. Or contact them by phone or email to ask how things are going with that one project they told you about. Either way, keep your network warm!

Get even more out of yourself and your network?

Do you want to develop yourself even further and get even more out of your network? As an online training provider SkillsTown offers more than 500 online courses in the field of personal and professional development. Think of trainings like: Your Network as Infrastructure, Making Your Network Work for You, Network Leadership, Communicating Effectively, and many more.

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