6 tips for improving your networking skills by https://padlet.com/alana_downer0146/p7ai6aaimw00 en-us 2016-12-20 10:28:33 UTC 2023-12-13 21:41:27 UTC hello@padlet.com alana_downer0146 https://padlet.com/alana_downer0146/p7ai6aaimw00/wish/144433484 Everyone needs help to succeed in business; networking is key to finding it. Good networking skills are an essential tool for anyone wishing to move their prospects forward.
Have a plan
Walking into a room full of strangers unprepared will be a daunting prospect even for the most outwardly confident people. Prepare what you want to say about yourself or your business beforehand, and run through it a number of times. Think about who might be in the room and who you would like to approach. Do some research if appropriate; find out about your prospective contact. Appearing informed is the best way to impress.
Don’t be a pushy customer
Keep the enquiries that you are making general and searching. Don’t try to directly tackle your contact about specifics unless the conversation naturally goes in this direction, otherwise you will sound like you are making a sales pitch. This will create irritation and cause an uncomfortable situation for both of you. You are looking for ways in; it is not a matter of palming off a business card to all and sundry but of building rapport. If you go in too hard and too fast you will end up out in the cold rather than in with a chance. Remember that you are trying to establish contact, not to finish the deal. Smile and keep it light.
Begin at the shallow end
Try contacting friends first, then progress to the people that they can suggest, using their names as a way in. Once you have had some experience at this, and built up an idea of how you want to present yourself, move on to more distant prospects. Do not be afraid to reach out to unknowns; keep an objective sense of proportion and shrug off the knock backs. Do not be put off if you think that the particular person you are talking to does not seem to be responding very well. There are a multitude of reasons why this might be so keep your expectations high and move on to another prospect. Be persistent, and try to develop a thick skin; a sense of humour is a valuable asset!
Always keep an open mind about engagements
Go to everything that you are invited to; you never know what opportunities may open themselves. Try giving yourself a challenge that you will reach out to a given number of contacts per week. Soon you may find yourself becoming adept at presenting your ideas in a winning manner. Practice is the best way to overcome any shyness and succeed.
Move on
You may feel a particular conversation has run its course. Have a strategy for disengaging without awkwardness. Your time is important and if the conversation is going nowhere be prepared to move on. Say something like: ‘Well, it’s been really interesting talking with you; I must just chat to a few other people before they leave’
Follow it up
If you do make what you think might be a useful contact do not sit on it but chase it up as soon as you think appropriate. If you have indicated that you will email or phone someone then make sure you do so.

Alana Downer is the Content Manager at Learn to Trade - a leading currency trading education company based in Australia. 

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