Networking can be, at times, awkward and even produce anxiety. The thought of reaching out to people you don\u2019t know to build potential business relationships can seem daunting. How do those \u201csuper connecter\u201d social butterflies carry themselves with such confidence while others stammer and stutter?<\/p>\n
As it turns out, there\u2019s a psychology to relationship building that will not only help you feel more secure when meeting new people, but will also transform your stack of business cards into meaningful connections that may advance your career.<\/p>\n
Here are four ways to leverage what we know about human behavior and the brain to become a better networker and to create relationships that last:<\/p>\n
Catch people\u2019s eye by standing near the appetizers. Everyone loves food and at events, it\u2019s usually where people\u2019s eyes turn to automatically as they scan the room. Standing by the grub will get you noticed. Plus, a constant stream of people will circulate around you making it easy to float seamlessly from conversation to conversation. Body language also plays a big role in how people interpret your confidence level. Stand tall, nod while others speak, and keep a smile on your face. These behaviors all project curiosity, self-assurance and approachability, which will keep others engaged and interested. What you wear can similarly impact others\u2019 perception of you. Wearing bright attention-getting colors, especially red, will project energy, assertiveness and action.<\/p>\n
Want to create a lasting impression on someone? Make a point to talk with that person either first or last. Think about it this way: Who was the first you interacted with yesterday? The last person? Easy to remember, right? Now, try to name every other person you had an interaction with throughout the day. Because of the serial position effect, we can most easily recall the first and last things we do, while the in-between activities tend to get muddled. If you make a point to talk to someone at the very beginning or end of the night, you\u2019re more likely to make a memorable impression.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the first thing someone typically asks to start a conversation? You guessed it: \u201cSo what do you do?\u201d Because we expect most networking openers to ask about our professional work, one of the best ways to stand out and build a stronger connection with someone is to ask uncommon questions. Ask them questions about where they grew up, where they went to school, their hobbies \u2014 anything that could reveal a common bond. You could even do a little research on the person beforehand (that\u2019s what Google and social media are for) to figure out what makes them tick and find some common ground. Chances are people will actually feel flattered if you actually did some research. Getting personal with someone will show that you\u2019re taking a genuine interest in them.<\/p>\n
There is nothing more annoying than a conversation filled with \u201clike\u2019s\u201d and \u201cum\u2019s.\u201d These fillers weaken your speech and can give the impression that you don\u2019t really know what you\u2019re talking about. Make a conscious effort to speak clearly and concisely. Also, try to match your tone with the person you\u2019re chatting with. If they speak very loudly with a lot of hand gestures, try to match their energy. For example, you can do this by using more voice inflections and nodding your head more vigorously. Because we unconsciously prefer people who are similar to us, it\u2019s a great way to build rapport.<\/p>\n
Remember, confidence and relationship building are not skills we\u2019re born with. It takes time, effort, and practice to become more comfortable with your networking skills, but rest assured these are skills you can develop over time.<\/p>\n
What has helped you become a better networker over time? What tips can you share for others looking to improve on their networking game?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Networking can be, at times, awkward and even produce anxiety. The thought of reaching out to people you don\u2019t know to build potential business relationships can seem daunting. How do those \u201csuper connecter\u201d social butterflies carry themselves with such confidence while others stammer and stutter? As it turns out, there\u2019s a psychology to relationship building […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":9000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43902],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n