Tag Archives: Networking Best Practices

Elevate Your Elevator Speech

By Phil Stella | Published: March 2, 2020

Elevator Speeches … 30 Second Commercials … Shameless Self-Promotions. They’re our typical response to the often asked ‘What do you do?’ We all do them at professional group or networking events. But, most of us don’t do them with enough focus and finesse, so here are some simple and easy strategies to Elevate Your Elevator Speech (ES). Read More »

Why I Hate ‘Small Talk’

By Phil Stella | Published: February 5, 2020

 I recently facilitated a workshop on Networking Best Practices. A participant asked about using small talk. After getting input from the rest of the group, I offered my view – just say ‘NO’ to small talk. It doesn’t help you that much. Go for ‘Big Talk’ instead. The rest of my rant …  Read More »

Your Networking’s Value Proposition

By Phil Stella | Published: December 5, 2019

A business reporter sought me out recently for some comments on Networking’s Value Proposition for small businesses. Here’s a summary of that conversation: Read More »

Network with Uncommon Courtesy

By Phil Stella | Published: November 4, 2019

A reader recently asked for some simple tips to network with more courtesy and to avoid coming off like a ‘slug’ at networking events. My comments.
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Where do you network?

By Phil Stella | Published: August 4, 2019

A reader new to NE OH asked for suggestions about good places to network. My response …

Some people say you can and should network anywhere and everywhere, but I suggest some places are better than others.  Where you go to network is a function of the kinds of people you’re trying to meet, which is a function of what your specific networking objectives are. And your objective are all about the kind of information you’re seeking to help you run your business or do your job better, faster, easier or cheaper. Read More »

That’s Really a Dumb Question!

By Phil Stella | Published: August 2, 2019

And speaking of questions, let’s look at questions in a networking context. You know that old adage, ‘There’s no such thing as a dumb question’? Sorry to spoil your fantasy, but that’s wrong. Read More »

I Hate Elevator Speeches & So Should You!

By Phil Stella | Published: April 1, 2019

Have you ever been at a COSE or some other business networking event and heard an amateur networker deliver an ‘Elevator Speech from Hell’? I know I have. Lots of times. You wanted to hit the emergency stop button and escape that elevator fast. Read More »

LinkedIn Losers

By Phil Stella | Published: February 4, 2019

My recurring rants about LinkedIn Losers often generate reader reaction and commentary – both positive and negative. So … here we go again! Read More »

Why I Love ‘Escalator Speeches’

By Phil Stella | Published: October 3, 2018

Elevator Speeches – your simple answer to the often-asked question ‘What do you do?’ – are sometimes maligned and often done poorly. But, they’re still a fact of life when you network.

So, that’s why I love Escalator Speeches. Assume you’re on the down escalator as someone passes by you going up on the other side.. You only have a few seconds to communicate, so you must be focused and concise.

Mine is ‘I empower business leaders to take away their pain from workplace communication.’ Short, simple and likely to generate some questions when the other person turns around and follows me back down.

Crafting something that concise is a lot of work, I admit. But, it’s well worth the time and effort if you want to make the Varsity Networking Team.

What To Do AFTER Your Elevator Speech

By Phil Stella | Published: September 5, 2018

As wannabe Power Networkers, many of you polish your finely-crafted Elevator Speeches and deliver them with passion and purpose every chance you get. Great. Read More »