Networking is yuck, right?

It conjures up images of eating small square pieces of awful rubber-chicken type food, being asked a question when your mouth is full, and then trying to shake hands without spilling a drink. All the time you?re wondering what you?ll say to not sound like an idiot.

Networking is yuck, right?

It conjures up images of eating small square pieces of awful rubber-chicken type food, being asked a question when your mouth is full, and then trying to shake hands without spilling a drink. All the time you?re wondering what you?ll say to not sound like an idiot.

OK, so maybe I have a little PTSD about networking events 🙂

But training events are different. For one thing, you?re going there to learn and grow, and improve yourself and your business.

I LOVE going to training events. They are one of the top 3 ways that I?ve grown my business – AND you can often book clients there.?

But only if you do these 5 things.

1) Go to give

I?ve given away hundreds of thousands of dollars in business coaching at events that I was attending. If someone asks a question that I can answer, I?m happy to volunteer.

Here are the parameters to make sure this doesn?t become over-giving!

• Ask before offering advice. Don?t waste your gold on deaf ears.
• Don?t take yourself away from connection with others and hole up with one person who?s overly needy. Instead, give a helpful suggestion, and move on.
• They need more than you can give in 5-10-15 minutes of helpful conversation. You don?t have to be worried that they?ll take it and do it all without you. (Be sure to see #2 though!)

2) Follow up

The biggest reason that people don?t get clients from events (or maintain friendships) is that they don?t follow up.?

Here are the tips to make follow up easier:

• Don?t focus on giving out your card – get theirs!
• Put them in your phone.
• Have yourself in your phone as a contact.
• Ask for their cell phone then do a ?share contact? with them which sends your email and phone number to them.
• Be sure to grab their name, or ask them to share the contact back.

3) Implement 1 thing

One of the reasons that people don?t follow up is that they leave an event overwhelmed. You may have learned a great tip, or a new way to do business at an event, but if you leave with a 50-item todo list, none of those things will get done.

Figure out the 1 thing that you?re bringing back that you want to implement this week.

For bonus points? Make a list of the other things you want to implement, and put a meeting with yourself on your calendar for a week from now to schedule them.

4)?Be vulnerable, and ask questions

Lots of people have said ?but I don?t want to ask a question or share something at an event and appear weak. Won?t that hurt my business??

Actually, no. People appreciate those who are brave and vulnerable. When you?re not afraid to ask questions, and learn, you show up as more approachable and more interesting.

5)?Connect during breaks, afterwards

Anyone with even a speck of introvert in their personality will usually run for a private place during a break. However, breaks are often the best times to connect.

If you need the energy refresh, find short ways to get that (take 5 minutes of a break to do that, not the entire break.)?

It?s also easier to connect when you plan:?

• What you will say. Asking a question is a good way to start a conversation!
  
• Who you will ask. Identify two or three people you could approach on the next break.
  
• Decide what you want. What?s the big thing you want to walk away from the event with?

Which one of these ideas will you implement this week? Share with me on Facebook!