GennGlobal gives great advice on how to network successfully.

1. Thoughts
and
inspirations
from
“HOW TO ACTUALLY
ENJOY NETWORKING”

3.  The thought of attending a networking event might
sound boring to you for multiple reasons.
 Whether you are naturally shy, don’t like interacting
with strangers, or don’t understand the benefits of
professional networking, odds are that you dread
networking events.
 However, whatever the source of your apprehension is,
the professional benefits of networking events are too
big to ignore—networking must be done.
 Next, we will provide a few pieces of useful advice for
learning to actually enjoy networking.
INTRODUCTION

5.  For starters, try to hold a positive perspective of
networking as a concept. If you already have a
negative view of the activity, it will only be further
cemented by repeating it to yourself multiple times.
Instead, try to have a positive attitude and have fun!
 On a similar note, don’t pay a lot of attention to
pushing yourself or your business at networking events.
Instead of being on edge and completely business-
focused, try relaxing and connecting with people on a
personal level first—relaxing and opening up are the
first steps to a successful and meaningful interaction.
 Plus, you can rest assured that professional topics will
naturally come up in conversation—just let it happen
naturally.
HOW TO ENJOY NETWORKING

6.  Perhaps you’re feeling nervous about your next
networking event?
 One easy way to attempt to calm your nerves is to
prepare for it like you would most any other activity:
through practice.
 Try practicing your pitch and small talk with people you
are comfortable around (your friends and family, for
example) so that you have something to fall back on
when you are actually in a real world scenario and your
minds runs blank.
HOW TO ENJOY NETWORKING

8.  Lastly, keep a clear focus on the purpose of networking.
 Don’t feel obligated to talk to every single person at an
event, or that you need to get rid of all the business
cards that you brought to the event.
 Instead, try and have meaningful and impactful
conversations with those that you do talk to.
 What’s more, shift your focus to attempting to collect
as many business cards as you can from those you talk
to.
 By receiving their business card (as opposed to the
other way around) you can guarantee that one of you
follows through on keeping the relationship going after
the event ends. Instead of putting it up to faith that the
other person will contact you, you’ll have the agency
to contact them!
HOW TO ENJOY NETWORKING