Networking Know-How

Articles

Links: 9 August '06: Tricks of the Trade

Alex Cureton-Griffiths

Some tips from Tricks of the Trade:

Businessman
If you are dealing with an international contact but don't know if they are a man or a woman, try typing their first name into a image search engine like images.google.com (e.g., "Priti"). Watch out for unisex names, though.
Mingler
Always enter a conversations with a drink you are about to finish.

If things don't go well, all you need to do is take one last gulp from your drink and excuse yourself to get another, never to return.

If the conversation is going well, finish your drink and ask the other person if you can get them anything when you go to get another. They will appreciate the gesture even if they decline, and it impies that you'll be returning for a longer conversation.
Sales
Young people often think the secret to making a good first impressions is to talk about themselves. They couldn't be more wrong.

Remember to ask questions of new acquaintances. Ask follow-up questions to indicate you are listening. Avoid chiming in with your own "stories". The person will remember you as someone they know and like, even if you have shared nothing about yourself. Everyone appreciates a good listener.

Links: 6 August '06

Alex Cureton-Griffiths

Smartmoney - the invisible grip -- the importance of eye contact. Something I've been trying to improve on in the past few months

How to Promote Yourself Quickly and Easily

Alex C-G

When I was starting Shanghai Networking News, I had a problem explaining to people what it was all about. I'd just stand there umming and aahing about helping people connect, making it easier to network and all sorts of other vague verbiage.

I was in a bind; How could I get people interested if I couldn't even explain what I did? Then I remembered reading something ages ago about an "elevator pitch" -- a quick summary you can rattle off about yourself, your company or anything else in the time it takes to make an elevator journey.