(With many business groups holding holiday parties or events this month, it made sense to re-run this piece on small talk – timing is everything. Best wishes for successful schmoozing!
A reader recently asked about using small talk at networking events or meetings. My simple response – just say ‘NO’ to small talk. It doesn’t help you that much. Go for ‘Big Talk’ instead. The rest of my rant …
Have you ever gotten an email like this? ‘Hi Phil, Tony Grosso suggested I contact you. I’d like to meet with you to network and discuss my job search. Let me know some good times to get together. Regards … Chuck Upton.’
While harmless enough, concise and clear, Chuck could have been much more effective, efficient and engaging. He could have indicated:
You know that old adage, ‘There’s no such thing as a dumb question’? Sorry to spoil your fantasy, but that’s wrong. There are plenty of dumb questions.
Three of my faves are:
1. Excuse me, do you know what time it is?
2. Hey mister, got any spare change?
3. Honey, do you want to take out the trash?
I hate networking. I really hate it. A rather strange comment coming from the self-proclaimed Godfather of Networking in COSE-land. Yes … but let me explain.
I hate Networking Slugs … I really do. And so should you. They typically create very negative first impressions at networking events by doing lots of dumb things. They probably didn’t plan to behave like Slugs and what they do is often out of mindless habit or lack of focus. But, the results are just as lame … and just as annoying.
I used to refer to this concept as networking with ‘common courtesy’. But, just like ‘common sense’, this practice is anything but commonplace in the business world today. One of the fastest and smartest ways to make that best possible first impression when networking is both very simple and very easy. Just display ‘Uncommon Courtesy’ that clearly differentiates you from the pack of amateurs by:
One of the simplest tools in your Power Networking Tool Kit is the simple little Name Tag you wear at networking events. Everyone uses them, but few people do so strategically to add to a positive first impression and enhance the networking process. Really … I’m not making this up.