Networking with people at business events could be one of those you enjoy, or it could be something you aren’t very comfortable with. Don’t be someone who doesn’t have anyone to talk to. Networking is an art that you can master with experience.
Networking with people at business events could be one of those you enjoy, or it could be something you aren’t very comfortable with. Talking to new people and building new contracts is excellent for any businessperson and their company. Don’t be the person who doesn’t have anyone to talk to. Networking is an art that you can master with experience.
Here are our ways to make meeting new people easier:
- Start with a ‘hello’ and introduce yourself. A good handshake can go a long way in creating a favourable impression.
- You could start a conversation by asking if the other person is originally from where the event is or if they travelled to be here.
- Asking people what kind of volunteer work they engage in is a great conversation starter, especially in charity-related events.
- Food is something that everyone has an opinion about, and starting a conversation about the food served is a great way to get someone to talk to you.
- Instead of just asking for someone’s name, you could ask what motivated them to attend the event. This question could give you insight into their personality and career goals.
- Complimenting someone in their shoes or wearing something else could be a good conversation starter. However, only do this if you want to compliment them, or they could think you are a phoney. It is also vital to ensure the compliment is not inappropriate based on the sex or age of the person you are talking with.
- Most people love to be asked for advice. While asking for insight or advice from someone you just met can be tricky, you can use this to your advantage by asking for insight on something the person is likely to be familiar with or something you noticed they own.
Asking questions about something happening around you is the best way to get the other person to talk. If you are at an event, you could ask what the person thought about the speaker or a previous speaker or whether they were regulars at the event.
You could ask if they heard about the recent big news or a recent event that made headlines. However, you should ensure that the topic you choose to bring to the conversation is not very controversial.
Talking about sports or activities the person indulges in when they are not working could help relax and talk more.
Try these out at the next business event you attend, and write to us to let us know which one worked out for you. If you have other excellent conversation starter ideas, let us know in the comments section.
