facilitating : training coaching : consulting & talent solutions
  • Very Briefly
  • One to One
  • Teams
  • Problem Solving
  • Talent
  • Education
  • Our Team
  • Connect with us
  • Resources
  • Very Briefly
  • One to One
  • Teams
  • Problem Solving
  • Talent
  • Education
  • Our Team
  • Connect with us
  • Resources
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Picture

2/25/2014 0 Comments

So what is wrong with some networking events?

Picture
I guess I need to start with a list of things that events get really badly wrong to start to illustrate my answer:

 That all pervading smell of cheap coffee (you know they say that the smell of freshly made ground coffee its one of the best ways to sell a house? Well one of the best ways to ruin any event is that cheap coffee smell that seems to get into the very pores of the people who have been there all day!)

Stale pastries (if you say breakfast mean it please - I don't want yesterdays paying customers left-over's, really!)


The local 'cartel' of welcoming /unwelcoming networkers in prominent positions trying to suss out if you will be competition for them (I really hate this - I think that networking can be one of the key celebrations of local business communities but when people are cold shouldered or not engaged with as they might be competition for one of the organisers or long term group members the whole thing falls very sourly short of anything valid)    

Badges that you cannot read from a distance (avoids the need to waste time talking to people who you will never do business with and that awkward staring at people's chest close up thing..)

People trying to sell stuff to you before they even know your name  (robot salesman who have been taught their pitch word for word and sent to the event to get some 'hot leads', crass and uninteresting and always slightly awkward for everyone involved isn't it?)

Forced 'elevator' pitches (people project their brand, personality and ability to connect in different ways. I know there needs to be a way for people to get started but please find a better way as this is usually excruciating)  

Organisers with agenda's that are eventually obvious and nothing to do with how they got you to attend ( I equate this to that horrible realisation that you have been conned into a time-share presentation / sales promotion event thinking you were attending a tapas evening. Authenticity is a must for engagement and for people to not feel you have wasted their time. This sort of thing is never forgotten.)

Events that don't know if they are for business or social purposes (this is one of my pet issues with networking events; is the event an excuse for a loose social gathering with a bit of business thrown in or is it a genuine opportunity to promote your business, services and self?)  

So you will have gathered that I have issues with how networking events are conceived and delivered. I am really not knocking those that try to get something started and have the right intentions but to get this kind of thing right is really quite skilled; a cup of coffee, a suitably sized room and a few dozen people does not a networking event make.

I love the events where there is both a purpose for attending and an opportunity to network in a natural, relaxed and professional way.

I enjoy meeting people that have lots of interesting, diverse and exciting things to say about themselves and their business and I listen to people who have the ability to project and connect and who know when to move on.

Networking can be a joy (if that is the right word) when it does not feel forced or hard work.

Some of my best clients and biggest projects have been acquired / earned or initiated through simple one to one conversation in a great environment that has been thoughtfully and intelligently created.

That's all - not difficult....  

Paul Goring 2014    


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Paul Goring

    AGR MIPR BPS Lvl B+

    Looks at career skills, recruitment, people that inspire and sharing news 

    Archives

    November 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    January 2017
    October 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    Categories

    All Appraisals Career Career Advice Career Coaching Career Decisions Careers Advice Career Support Coaching Communication Confident Interviews CV / Marketing Flier Education Employability Employers Events Grad Careers Internships Interview Performance Interviews. Interview Advice Interview Tips Job Advice Lucid Stories Management Skills Networking One To One Meetings Personal Brand Personal Development Presentations Reflective Learning Returning To Work Staff Development Student Employability Understanding The World Of Work Your Own Career Manager

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from e3Learning, EdgeThreeSixty, monikabota, shaire productions, ToGa Wanderings, H o l l y., woodleywonderworks, Chicago Art Department, AZAdam, Mike Burns, ePublicist, Marco / Zak, Jesse Gardner, squeezeomatic, DaveBleasdale, thetaxhaven, Ding Yuin Shan, Ayleen Gaspar, plassen, GYLo, cambodia4kidsorg, the Italian voice, Daquella manera, Hello Turkey Toe, jm3, woodleywonderworks, betsyweber, aaronparecki, Des Mots dans l'Oeil, dorofofoto