Welcome!
Five and a half years ago I got a new sales job in a new industry and had no contacts and little knowledge of the industry. I had no fear of cold calling. So that's what I did.
As anyone in sales will tell you, cold calling is not a great ROI. Meeting and talking to someone F2F is by far the best way to build a relationship. I had to embrace networking and learn some hard lessons along the way.
Today, I am the president of the second largest chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association. Our Chapter is ranked as one of the top ten networking associations in our area. Have I picked up some great networking experience? Absolutely. Have I witnessed first hand women not making the most of networking opportunities? Definitely. Am I still learning about networking and communicating? Every day.
This blog is meant to share what I learn. I have a some stories and tips in the bank, so I'll start there. The format should be easy to follow.
Tip:
Wear a "come talk to me" pair of shoes.
When it's applicable:
- You've been told you may seem unapproachable by employees
- You know you won't have the energy to start a lot of conversations during the networking portion of an event
- You don't feel comfortable networking. Period.
Why:
A distinct, tasteful pair of shoes or other accessory gives others a reason to start a conversation with you.
What next:
Please don't say "Thank You" and walk away. Continue the conversation by having a tidbit to go along with the accessory. "Oh, I got this in Paris on my last trip" or "My mother gave this to me when I graduated from law school". Or even something as simple as, "These shoes seem to be a conversation starter and I don't know anyone here, so thank you for coming up to me - is this your first time at one of these events?"
After a few minutes, say how nice it was to meet the person and move on by saying - "Wow, did you see her shoes? I'd like to hear that story."
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