How easy it is to meet anyone and benefit from networking

The fact that the ability to get acquainted is exactly a skill, I realized when I was studying for an MBA. At the module in San Francisco, we were given the task of scheduling four meetings with Silicon Valley startups. In total, I had 40 classmates, we were divided into eight groups. Only three groups completed the task completely, the rest either agreed on only 2-3 meetings, or did not make any appointments at all. As it turned out, my classmates were very uncomfortable calling strangers: what will they think of us?

Communication and PR are inseparable. Perhaps this is why networking is my “professional deformation”. I have no fear or embarrassment when meeting. When I see a person, questions immediately arise in my head that can be solved here and now or in the future. You come up - there is a contact. It seems easy and simple. But to achieve this ease, I have met hundreds of clients and attended hundreds of events. And now I'm sure: effective networking is a skill that can be learned.

1. Prepare in advance

If you are going to a meeting and you know exactly who you will meet, I advise you to prepare. Facebook and LinkedIn for help. Run your eyes over the pages, grab onto what will be useful. Suddenly you have common interests, then the conversation will easily start. Just do not immediately open all the trump cards. Take on arms what you need if the dialogue reaches a dead end after a couple of duty phrases.

2. Be original

Coco Chanel was right: "You won't get a second chance to make a first impression." To be remembered by a person, it is important to get an emotional response. Prepare a short self-presentation for 15-30 seconds, tell a funny story. It's the same with the business card. Let it be unusual. For example, write on the back 3-4 interesting facts about you: “I am a mother of three children and an investor in three businesses, I read more than 100 books a year, I started splitting again at the age of 39”. We are not robots, so don't be shy about your hobbies and personal achievements.

3. Always meet

You never know what a new acquaintance will bring. At worst, nothing, at best, a long-term friendship. It is friendly relations that are a solid basis for long-term cooperation. Some people find it unethical to engage in communication for profit. But all sales are built on this. Account based marketing is popular now. Its essence is that you are aimed not at the widest possible audience, but at individual companies or individual clients, so you build your strategy specifically for them. In this case, you cannot do without acquaintances.

4. Get help

The expression "got a job out of acquaintance" also has a negative connotation. However, this is a widespread phenomenon. Connections decide. They would rather hire a familiar specialist than an expert from the street. It may sound unfair, but no one bothers you, too, to make the necessary acquaintances and use them. The Six Handshake Theory will always help you find the right contacts to fill a job in your business or get a good position.

5. Filter your contacts

It's good when your circle of acquaintances touches on different areas. In this case, it is better to take not quantity, but quality. Moreover, the number of social connections is not infinite. The English psychologist and anthropologist Robin Dunbar established Robin Dunbar: we can only ever have 150 friends at most … that the average number of people with whom we are able to maintain good relations is 150 people. In order for your time and attention to be enough for those people with whom it is important for you to keep in touch, it may be worth sacrificing a friend from the social network. Especially if he is from the category of silent observers.

6. Take action

Purposefulness will help you find a common language with anyone. Yes, for someone it is not a problem to start a casual conversation, but for another to speak with a stranger is like death. But if you have a goal that is more important than comfort, then it will be easier to get acquainted. If you run into a problem in business, identify the weaknesses and pains of your company and determine in which area you would benefit from advice. If you are at a professional conference, think about who is present and how can help you? What recommendations would you like to receive?

7. Keep in touch

Remember that networking is not a one-time communication. These are long-term partnerships that take effort to maintain. If this is a business acquaintance, take a "control shot": call or send an email with a proposal for the next meeting. To strengthen business ties, a joint breakfast or lunch is well suited. As a small talk at such a meeting, it is appropriate to talk about the affairs of the company, your hobby. And, of course, think about how you can help the interlocutor.

8. Grow a tree of connections

In the MBA program, we were advised to build a tree of connections in order to understand what is missing for development. For example, you want to get a large company as a partner. You make a schematic tree, marking the companies and people you need to contact to achieve your goal. Determine which branches are missing, and begin to build them up, gradually overgrowing with connections. With proper care, such a tree will bear more and more fruits each time.