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Ok so I am at a networking event the other day and I was talking to the network owner. We were just generally gossiping.
“I haven’t spoken to him” I said while gently nodding the the direction of a man in a (boring) suit.
“Be careful” said the network owner whilst at the same time, raising his eyebrows gently.
No I could be forgiven for ignoring him (the network owner) .
After all, as every teacher knows, if you expect bad behaviour you tend to get it right?
WRONG.
I have my “inner circle” of “trusted advisors” – I rely on their judgement and insight. (By the way – do you have such a network?)
As by chance – (despite my best efforts), a short while later, I found myself next to the individual concerned.
There was no way out. I HAD to talk to him.
Pleasantries over and down to brass tacks
“Who is a good lead for you?” I said “Who do you want to speak to?”
All standard questions (from me).
“Well, that depends on what you call a lead?” he said with a smile on his face
“Crikey” I think, I want to help the guy out here, not have a philiosphical discussion.
“umm” I said “What sort of people do you want to talk to, who are your potential customers?”
“Ah, that depends on which business hat I have on”
Thinks again
“Blimey, you aint half making this difficult”
And then he must have took pity on me
“I’ve written a book you know” he said
“Oh yes, tell me about it”
“It’s about XYZ”
(I should point out at this point that XYZ was something totally unrelated to business, sales, marketing and why we were supposed to be at the event).
“Oh… right”
“Let me tell you….
Blah
Boring
Drone
I
Didn’t
Get
A
Word
In
FOR
10
Minutes
“Ok thanks, see you goodbye then” he said and went.
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Do you introduce you kids to swearing?
I think that's partially true. Yes, words are just a collection of le
Do you introduce you kids to swearing?
Believe it or not I did an English degree. One of my tutors on our 1s
Do you introduce you kids to swearing?
I prefer to swear at them. On the basis that it's best to hear it f
Graham Frost
Sounds as if you might have been talking to me there! I wear a suit to networking meetings (and a tie) but I have never been referred to as boring. I also talk about things that are nothing to do with business at networking meetings – I call it relationship building. If you gave me a referral the first time you met me I would wonder why – after all, you don’t know me from Adam. But perhaps I’m just weird
jonathan
Hello Graham, no it wasn’t you – although I defo think we have met.
Suit & tie does not equal boring in my book.
Then again neither does casual equal interesting…
Kenneth
hmmmm, Your title suggests that you have some advice to offer. Instead there is just a whinge! zzzzzzzz
Maxine Hayter
Was this in Sheffield last week? You have described my experience to a T- even down to the painful extraction of what he did for a living.
Networkers fall in to 4 categories, in my opinion:
The Professional Targetter or TPT (20 minutes of full-on “Buy my Spratchett”, with no interest in my business, and a final handshake leaving only a VistaPrint business card and a bad taste in my mouth)
The Old Boys* Networker or TOBN (stands with their friends in a closed group, occasionally laughing far too loudly, before leaving the room shouting farewells to selected favourites with the “call me” hand signal)
*not exclusive to gentlemen
The Newbie: favourite of TPT, abhorred by TOBN. Stands in the corner of a room, emitting an air of helplessness and optimism, hoping that someone will come over and talk to them. Often only ever seen once at regular events.
The Good Networker- that rare beast, someone looking to make contacts that are useful to them, whilst being genuinely interested in the people they meet. If they can get to The Newbie before anyone else, the Newbie stands a chance of learning from the best, and the Good Networker will probably have a guaranteed customer in the future.
Networking Events are like The Emperor’s New Clothes; everyone has heard why they are so fabulous, and about the someone who got a £100K contract from their first ever meeting. I am extremely selective about my events these days, having felt like The Newbie far too many times (and, if you have met me, you would NOT describe me as a wall-flower…..); but I am still optimistic. Someday, somewhere I shall attend an event where I realsie that the room is full of Good Networkers. A girl’s gotta dream……
jonathan
Maxine – I think you got this SPOT ON. I will be inviting my friend @josessers to leave his comments.
At the moment, I don’t go to ANY networking events – paid or unpaid for the reasons you outline. The internet gives me all the tools I need to find exactly WHO I need to speak to.
Thanks
Sigrid
@The Good Networker- that rare beast, someone looking to make contacts that are useful to them, whilst being genuinely interested in the people they meet. If they can get to The Newbie before anyone else, the Newbie stands a chance of learning from the best, and the Good Networker will probably have a guaranteed customer in the future.
You find those at BNI meetings. You need an invitation to get in, it’s totally structured and regimented but…if you understand and follow the system…you’ll get new business every week….and that is NOT boring
Cheers
jonathan
Edit – It’s in Sheffield everyweek isn’t it?
Jos
Thanks Jonathan. Maxine you are on the right track
The ABC is the source of a great deal of this confussion.
We mostly think it is easy like ABC. But it is not.
Salespeople think ABC stands for Always Be Closing. Networkers know that it can only stand for : Always be Connecting. So here we see the confusion Maxine describes.
Networkers will bring you at the table with your prospective customer by using the tools of referrals.
Salestechniques will get you the signutare under the orderform.
So let’s get it in the right order ABC – Always be connecting: Always comes first!
Always be Closing _ Always comes second ( or third or umteenth)
Jos