|
Successful Networking
A view from Marcus Kingswell of PMP Consult on the value of networking
Introduction
What is networking?
* Chat
* A structured approach to meeting people
Why do we need to network?
* Fun
* Personal career development
* Makes your job easier
* Promotes PMP
Where/when do we do it?
* All events
Who with?
* Old acquaintances
* New faces
* Targetted people
It comes naturally to very few people, s everyone else will be struggling just as much as you.They’ll be glad to talk to someone.
It’s hard work but it makes the day more enjoyable and for every two to three people you approach, at least one will approach you.
How to network successfully
Decide on your objectives
* Fun
* Personal career
* Promote your company
Target who you want to network with
* Think about who might be there - Prospective/Existing/Former clients or Old colleagues
* Look at the delegates list
Prepare your conversation matter
* What do you do personally?
* What does your company do?
* What projects can you talk about?
* What subject areas can you talk about? - Recent achievements
* Questions you want to ask other people
Finding people to talk to
* Start early – at registration
* Break the ice with ’easy kills’: anyone vaguely familiar
* Ditch your colleagues!
* Search out the people on your list
* Talk to anyone that looks interesting
* Introduce yourself to your neighbour in the conference room and people in the lunch queue
* Pick up two coffees at the break and give one to someone you want to talk to
Hints and tips
* Make it easy for the other person
- Wear your name badge
- Give them your business card (and get theirs!)
- Give several ‘opening lines’ up your sleeve
- Listen very carefully to what they say – don’t interrupt
- Positive body language
* Don’t criticise the event – the other person may be an organiser!
* Write something on your business card before you give it to them – mobile phone number, e-mail address, etc
* Write on their business card what action you need to take later
* Introduce people to each other
How to move on
* Introduce them to someone else
* Coffee, leaflets, other people, etc
Follow up
* Go through your collection of business cards
* Write letters, send corporate brochure, etc
* Add them to your Outlook Address Book (with notes of where you met them) |
|
