The Secret to Networking

I attended a workshop recently, something I like to do often to recharge my brain, and gained a lot of valuable tools and insight. Some of the most interesting learning though came from the conversations I had in the breaks with my fellow participants.

One key insight came through a conversation about the great networkers we've all met and watched in awe. You know the type, you attend an event with a friend and realize they know almost everyone in the room or you watch another friend have a conversation with a perfect stranger that has the quality of one between life long friends. As I chatted with the workshop leader about these phenomenal people he mentioned this gem, one of his great networking friends said it all came down to four words: Be interested not interesting.

Eureka! There is no better way to say it. I think we can all remember a time when we've walked away from a conversation at an event thinking "What a nice person" and realized you didn't really learn much about them but they learned tons about you. That is what the great networker does, they ask questions, paraphrase and generally make you feel like the most important person in the room. They are interested and that makes the person they are interested in feel great. Not only that but they now have great material to follow-up on with you and continue the relationship. Next time you are out there meeting new people give it at try!