Networking at a Business Event | Business Development

For years, I was apprehensive about going to yet another business event to network for new and ongoing business. All the business events seemed to be the same: sponsor rents a large room, stocks the room on one end with food, has a dais and microphone where announcements would be regularly broadcast?while attendees mingled and did their best to look engaged. Networking basics teach you to enter the room, sign in and start meeting people as you walk away from the registration desk.

Little comes from this repetitive scenario!

About the time I was going to swear off going to business networking events because I just never felt that comfortable at these events, a man took me aside at a medium-sized event and shared his secret for making these networking events a big success for him. In nine words: start at the back and work toward the door. Here?s his business event technique?

When going to a business event, enter the room and immediately head for the furthest spot from the door. Very few, if any, people will notice you arriving and moving quickly to the opposite side of the room.

Once you arrive at the furthest location from the door, catch your breath, turnaround and slowly walk toward the exit door?greeting people who look interesting along the way. Unless there is a specific reason (firm business, etc.), do not linger with one person or one group?keep politely exchanging conversation and move on.

Soon, you will be at the exit door and you can choose to quietly exit or stay and keep meeting people. What a simple technique.

I have since gone to many business events and always follow this technique for business development. Some business events are home runs, some business events are duds?either way, you now have a gracious way to excuse yourself from a business event or stay and enjoy.

For more simple and effective business development ideas, watch for my upcoming revision of Connecting with Key Decision Makers (How to Reach ?Hard-to-Reach? Businesspeople Who Can Say ?Yes?).

Mike McCann
Mike-at-GlobalBusinessCafe.com

Source: http://www.globalbusinesscafe.com/networking-at-a-business-event/

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