How to Make a Super-Huge Impression At Any Networking Event

There are many theories and opinions on what can make you a great networker. They seem to boil down to two things you have the absolute ability to control: your attitudes and your actions.

It is your attitudes and actions during networking situations that ultimately determine WHO remembers you, HOW they remember you, and whether or not they want to CONTINUE to remember you.

Tim Tyrell-Smith (Click Here) (here also) has some fantastic tips on attitudes and actions we can adopt to improve our networking effectiveness. One of his tips is particularly brilliant. Basically make it a goal of your networking effort to commit to being completely selfless for at least part of the event you are attending.

What he means by this is that you “Take Selfless Action”.

He recommends we go to events with the purpose of ONLY helping other people. (He says that if that is too tall an order, you should try and at least make a goal of helping 5 people).

What does he mean by this?

Simply, try to find the new people at the meeting. Try and befriend the shy ones. People struggle with how to strike up conversations with strangers, especially if they are new to the situation. So, take that pressure off of them, and LET IT START WITH YOU! Be the catalyst that makes a difference in someone’s experience of the event.

You can offer to show them around, and to introduce them to people. You can ask them questions that focuses only on their needs. Stay away from thoughts and ideas that ultimately relate to your own needs and wants. Make your mark by helping another person get what they want: contacts, information, friends.

Tyrell-Smith says that doing this is absolutely NOT a waste of time. If you really think about it, you’ll be inclined to agree. Take the time to introduce a stranger to a bunch of people, and you’ve made their night remarkable. Who was responsible for that? You!

So make a super huge impression at any networking event by being a host, a friend, a guide. Act Selflessly. Focus on someone other than you.

If nothing else, you’ll feel great for having given your guts to make another person feel good. …and sometimes that’s reward enough.

Any thoughts??? Leave a comment.

Several Secrets of Looking Good

Heading out to a networking event is frustrating enough as it is. Figuring out what to wear adds extra stress that often tempts you to give up going out at all. Well, never again feel frightened by the prospect of looking loserish compared to others. Here are some secrets that can help you take the stress from your chest!

Play Follow the Leaders…

Who are the leaders you admire? What do you often see them wearing? You might not be able to afford exactly what they wear, but at least you can mimic them in certain styles. It’s amazing what a person can create on a budget. If you’ve got the cash, spare nothing. Do it right, and do it like success-already people.

If you feel a bit goofy mimicking someone else, then tweak the style with a little touch of YOU. Wear unique socks or shoes that match your brand, the image you want to project and leave in the minds of those you’re meeting.

The key to this is…

Wear whatever you wear with confidence…

Confidence is the magic ingredient to anything you wear. Dennis Rodman used to care little what others thought. He knew he was awesome, and so the clothes he wore mattered little. Same for Madonna, or many of the stars we see parading about in magazines and television shows. Be confident, and you can darn near wear anything at all.

Finally, dress as you want to be seen….remembered….considered….thought of.

What is your brand? Who are you wanting to be remembered as? What is your industry, and what message are you wanting to send? If you see yourself as the ever professional, then wear clothes accordingly. Shorts, a button down, a tie and a coat are cool if you’re a young rockstar who’s actually getting paid: if you are a young marketing executive, this might not be best for you.

So now you have a couple things to consider when you’re debating whether to go out or not. Not should NOT be the action you’re looking for. Instead, OUT should be. Go out, look good, meet cool people, and change your life.

If you’re interested in the basics of style, check out this article in FORBES.