Three Deadly Mistakes To Avoid At A Networking Event
Rarely a week goes by that I don’t receive an invitation to attend a networking event. No matter what city I’m working in, it always seems that something is going on in the networking world…..too great to be missed!
Visibility is one of the first steps in building a concrete relationship for growing your business. But, you must take every effort to ensure that the visibility you are receiving is positive. From your body language, to your personal actions, you are being judged from people throughout the room. Some of the people you may not need to know today, but tomorrow they may be the decision maker on a proposal you are hoping to land!
Without the proper visibility techniques, you will never be able to make it to the credibility phase of developing a relationship. Dr. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI, teaches that you must first create visibility and then establish credibility to eventually experience profitability. And, we all know, that profitability is the ultimate goal of us attending any networking event…..right?
So, I’d like to point out three deadly mistakes you should always avoid when attending a networking event if you want positive visibility and credibility.
Be Selective Of The Company You Keep
Brian Tracy, renowned author, tells us that you are the average of the five people you are associated with the most.
I’d like to suggest that you are careful of whom you associate with when you are at a networking event. A person may be a lot of fun at the corner pub, but can be detrimental to your success at a networking event. I’m not advocating giving anyone the “cold shoulder,” but you should always be conscious of the drama that tends to follow certain people and avoid spending an extended amount of time with them.
Remember, the goal to attending a networking event is to build relationships not destroy them.
Watch Your Liquor Consumption…..Name Your Poison
Recently, a local networker was seen at a community networking event with “a drink in both hands.” Wow, wouldn’t you love to be the one that everyone notices with “a drink in both hands?” What were they thinking? Was it last call or something?
Social drinking is obviously acceptable, but you must, you must, you MUST know when to say WHEN. Once again, you are networking to building relationships, not poison them.
Even if you’ve had a rough day or even a rough week, you can’t turn to the local networking event to numb your personal problems. If your week has been that bad……GO HOME! Remember, you will never get to the credibility phase with others if your visibility is sloshed!
Avoid Gossip At All Costs
I say to avoid gossip at all costs because that’s exactly what it will be…..it will cost you business in the end. You must realize that even though most networking events are loud and noisy, people still overhear conversations. If someone hears you gossiping about someone else, they will first feel uncomfortable and not want to be in the circle with you and secondly, they will usually distance themselves from you at future events.
Remember, that the only people who are interested in your gossip are those who are helping you spread it. Everyone else sees gossip for exactly what it is…..an act to destroy relationships and build animosity.
So, the next time you’re at an event, take a look around and notice the groups of people networking. Notice how their body language is expressing a positive action to build visibility. Take note at who they are networking with…..and realize how quickly they are building credibility among their peers.
And then, notice those who are obviously there to partake in libations and gossip and talk about how people don’t treat them fairly.
Is it any wonder those networkers never make it to profitability?
