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How to Engage in Face to Face Networking

18th July, 2010 - Posted by Troy - 1 Comment

Think of face-to-face networking this way, and if this scenario does not apply to you personally then think of a similar pair of events. Have you ever gone out shopping for groceries without a list and on an empty stomach? Think about how it felt and what you achieved. Then compare that experience with a time when you had a list and were not hungry?

If you are like me when I was in college and you went shopping without the list and hungry you probably had a bunch of stuff that you normally would not buy and forgot half the stuff you actually needed and kicked yourself when you got home and remembered what it was. Then when you went prepared, you came back with everything you needed and did not go too hard on the frivolous and impulse buys.

The bad part about the former scenario is that there are always opportunities to go back to the store. The same cannot always be said when you are networking contacts, a missed opportunity may not be there the next time if the bridge is burned or not there at all. Another way to visualize the importance of this is to see your contacts as a finite resource that should not to be squandered.