Ever heard the phrase, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know?”
Yeah…hate to break it to you, but so has everybody else.
Unfortunately, many networking events host a gloomy, completely predictable cast of characters:
The Swiper – Much time can be spent dodging the ever-stealthy business card thief, the person who won’t speak two words to you but manages to leave with your business card with your email address, ready to spam you into oblivion.
The Damn Secretary in Distress – You always can find at least a few desperate people plowing their way through the crowd until they find one person they can latch on to for the entire length of the program. Attention span and eyes glazing over don’t matter. They are on a hunt for a new job! And forewarning: they won’t leave until you at least pretend you just remembered someone might be hiring.
The Superhero Colleague – Every once in a while, something wonderful happens at these events. You meet HIM. (OR HER!) and he/she saves you from awkwardly eating your mystery chicken in bad company. A completely friendly, honest and interesting individual who works for a cool company that you want to get to know better. This is the networking event jackpot, where you actually enjoy the tradition of the “passing of the biz card” and schedule lunch.
Increase your odds of running into Super Colleague by attending events in the hopes of building your friendship circles, NOT just your Linkedin profile and rolodex (does anyone still have a rolodex?).
Introduce yourself to everyone, but make sure they are meeting the real you, not “business schpeel you.” Keep in touch with the people you found interesting and invite them to other groups or organizations. Send them holiday cards. Send them articles, job or client leads that pertain to them. Yada-yada-yada, you get a new friend to lunch with.
I once attended a speed networking event where someone said, “So, what do you want? What are you trying to sell me?” I was slightly embarrassed to respond, “Um, I am just trying to meet people.” You can never, ever, ever have too many friends; true friends, not just random contacts that you can’t remember how they got in your Linkedin contacts in the first place.
It seems simple, but you would be amazed at how often people don’t do the quick role reversal: if a random “contact” sent a mass email to 572 people in the address book, needing a new hire immediately, versus your colleague/semi-friend sending the same email, which one would make you click a little faster to accommodate? So, wouldn’t it make sense to constantly be bettering your odds of gaining new friendships?
Everyone has a unique outlook on life and has something interesting to say – you just need to come out of your element and talk to people you may not have normally spoken to otherwise, while always thinking of ways to maintain your current friendships.
The less gossiping and negative comments about others, the better. The world is too small these days, and life’s too short.
Any other “characters” you guys encounter at events? Which ones are you?
Also, any other tips on the Art of Friendships versus Contacts are much appreciated.
