10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Networking Skills - How To Network With People Even If You're Shy!
Summary
TLDRIn this informative video, Stephan Erdman shares 11-12 effective strategies for mastering the art of networking. He addresses common networking challenges such as shyness and awkwardness and offers practical tips like setting goals, initiating contact, avoiding negativity, and focusing on mutual benefits. Erdman also emphasizes the importance of balance in conversations and the power of connecting people with each other. His advice aims to transform networking from a daunting task into an enjoyable and fruitful experience.
Takeaways
- 🎯 Set a clear goal for each networking event to guide your interactions and make you proactive.
- 🤝 Always take the initiative to start conversations and be the first to greet others.
- 🚫 Avoid negativity and focus on building positive connections with others.
- 🔄 Once a connection is made, gracefully exit the conversation to allow for further networking opportunities.
- 💡 Focus on giving value first and expect reciprocity later to build trust and meaningful relationships.
- 🔗 Be a connector by introducing people to each other, which can earn you goodwill and future favors.
- 🤔 Maintain a curious mindset to explore mutual benefits and how you can collaborate with others.
- 📉 Ensure conversation balance by giving others the opportunity to speak and share their experiences.
- 🚶 Keep moving to maintain momentum and make it easier to initiate new conversations.
- 😄 Find enjoyment in the networking process to make it more engaging for both you and others.
- 📇 Remember to exchange contact information and follow up after the event to solidify new connections.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the video by Stephan Erdman?
-The main purpose of the video is to share strategies for effective networking, helping those who find networking difficult to improve their skills and enjoy the process.
Why does Stephan Erdman emphasize the importance of setting a goal before attending a networking event?
-Setting a goal helps attendees to be proactive, focus on meaningful connections, and make the event more enjoyable and productive.
What is the second tip Stephan gives for effective networking?
-The second tip is to take the first step and initiate contact, rather than waiting for others to approach you.
Why should one avoid being negative during networking events according to the video?
-Being negative can put off potential connections, as it reflects insecurity and can make others feel uncomfortable or 'dirty' after engaging with you.
What does Stephan suggest doing after having a good conversation with someone at a networking event?
-Stephan suggests expressing gratitude for the conversation, stating your intention to stay in touch, and then moving on to meet more people.
How can focusing on giving rather than receiving help in networking?
-Focusing on giving first shows that you are not solely focused on your own interests, which can build trust and goodwill with new connections.
What is the 'magic move' for networking that Stephan mentions in the video?
-The 'magic move' is connecting people with each other, which can earn you brownie points and make you memorable to both parties.
What is the importance of maintaining a balance in conversations during networking events?
-Maintaining a conversation balance ensures that neither party feels unheard or bored, and it allows for a more engaging and reciprocal exchange of ideas.
Why should one keep moving during a networking event according to Stephan?
-Keeping moving makes it easier to initiate new conversations, maintain momentum, and avoid appearing stagnant or unapproachable.
What is the final tip Stephan gives for making networking enjoyable?
-The final tip is to find ways to enjoy the process and make it fun for yourself, which in turn can make the event more enjoyable for others.
What does Stephan suggest as a method to overcome the awkwardness of starting a conversation at a networking event?
-Stephan suggests using simple and natural openers like acknowledging someone's presence with a smile and a greeting, and asking if they are there for networking.
Outlines
🤝 Overcoming Networking Challenges
The video script introduces the topic of networking and the creator, Stephan Erdman, who used to find networking difficult due to being an introvert. He shares his personal experience and transformation from hating networking to enjoying it and being good at it. The script promises to provide 11-12 strategies to improve networking skills, especially for those who find it awkward or feel uncomfortable in social settings. Stephan encourages viewers to subscribe to his YouTube channel for more content.
🎯 Setting Goals for Networking Success
The second paragraph emphasizes the importance of setting a goal when attending a networking event. Stephan explains his previous approach of attending without a plan and how it led to awkwardness and ineffectiveness. He contrasts this with his new method of setting a specific goal, such as making five meaningful connections, which has significantly improved his networking outcomes. The paragraph also touches on the idea of enjoying the process and making it fun, which is a key to successful networking.
🚀 Proactive Networking: Taking the First Step
This paragraph focuses on the strategy of taking the initiative in networking. Stephan advises viewers to be proactive by initiating contact rather than waiting for others to approach them. He suggests acknowledging newcomers to the event and starting simple conversations to break the ice. The paragraph also warns against negativity and encourages maintaining a positive attitude throughout networking interactions.
🤝 Moving Beyond Initial Connections
The fourth paragraph discusses the importance of not clinging to the first person you connect with at a networking event. Stephan advises making a point to move on after establishing a good connection, to allow both parties the opportunity to meet more people. He stresses the importance of not being selfish and ensuring that the interaction is mutually beneficial.
💡 Focusing on Giving and Connecting
In this paragraph, Stephan highlights the value of giving before receiving in networking. He suggests offering help or connections to others as a way to build trust and goodwill. The paragraph also introduces the concept of connecting people with each other as a way to earn 'brownie points' and establish oneself as a valuable networker.
🤔 Curiosity and Mutual Benefit in Conversations
The sixth paragraph emphasizes the role of curiosity in networking conversations. Stephan encourages viewers to be interested in what others do and how they can collaborate or benefit mutually. He stresses the importance of focusing on the mutual benefit rather than solely on personal gains to build trust and strong connections.
📉 Avoiding Monopolisation in Conversations
This paragraph warns against dominating conversations and turning into a 'boring person' who only talks about themselves. Stephan advises maintaining a balance in conversations, likening it to a game of tennis where the 'ball' or topic goes back and forth between speakers. He also mentions the importance of not just asking questions but also providing information about oneself.
🚶♂️ Staying Mobile to Foster New Connections
The seventh paragraph discusses the strategy of staying mobile during networking events to foster new connections. Stephan shares his experience of getting stuck in one place and how moving around helps initiate new conversations. He suggests that being in motion makes it easier to catch people's attention and start interactions.
🎉 Enjoying the Networking Process
The final paragraph reiterates the importance of enjoying the networking process. Stephan encourages finding ways to make networking fun for oneself, as this positive attitude can make the experience enjoyable for others as well. He concludes by urging viewers to take action, attend networking events, and apply the strategies discussed in the video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Networking
💡Strategies
💡Collaboration
💡Goal
💡Initiate
💡Negative
💡Positive
💡Reciprocity
💡Connection
💡Enjoyment
💡Momentum
💡Curiosity
💡Balance
Highlights
Networking can be made enjoyable and effective with the right strategies.
Having a goal for networking events can significantly improve one's experience and outcomes.
Initiating contact is crucial; waiting for others to approach can lead to missed opportunities.
Avoid negativity when networking; focus on positive interactions to build meaningful connections.
After establishing a connection, it's important to move on and allow others to network as well.
Focus on giving first and receiving later to show genuine interest in the other person's needs.
Introducing people to one another can earn goodwill and strengthen your networking presence.
Being curious about mutual benefits and how to collaborate is key to successful networking.
Maintaining conversation balance ensures that networking interactions remain engaging and reciprocal.
Physically moving during networking events can help initiate new conversations and maintain momentum.
Finding enjoyment in the networking process can transform it from a chore to a rewarding experience.
Networking events provide opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and grow professionally.
Making the first move and enjoying networking events can lead to more connections and success.
The video offers 11-12 key tips to improve networking skills and make the process more enjoyable.
Personal experience shared by the creator emphasizes the transformation from disliking to loving networking events.
The importance of setting a goal for networking events is highlighted as a game-changer for effectiveness.
Taking the initiative to start conversations is presented as a fundamental networking skill.
Transcripts
how to get great at networking in this
video I'm going to be sharing with you
11 or even 12 strategies that anybody
can implement to get great at networking
and if you're somebody that finds
networking difficult if you find that
you know any crowd above two people
freaks you out or you just find it if
it's fake and you don't know how to go
about starting a conversation with a
complete stranger at a networking event
and then also extract yourself out of
that conversation where the time comes
and leave with a card then this video is
for you and if you don't know me yet my
name is Stephan Erdman I'm the creator
of this youtube channel but it's just
starting to throw a little bit right now
so if you want to help me grow and if
you want to get all the new videos that
I'm going to keep coming that you must
subscribe here right now
below are not button somewhere here
under the video on to networking why is
networking such a challenge for so many
people and why are people so
irrationally against it I mean ask any
person how they feel about networking
and they inevitably say awkward I don't
know I find it really weird it never
worked I never meet the right people I
get shy I get quiet I don't know I just
get drunk I end up drinking a lot and
then I don't end up with any cards or I
have 20 cards but none of them are feel
any affinity to and/or maybe I'm in the
wrong advanced it just seems hard work
and I get very uncomfortable that's what
you usually hear right I used to be one
of those people that hated networking
and basically avoided any opportunity to
do it and that's why I work very much in
a silo as a rating introverts myself to
be honest any crowd larger than one
other person used to freak me out so let
me just say to you from my own personal
experience it is possible to grow to
love events where there was 30 40 50
people and that are there to network
with you it is fun actually when you
know what you're doing so in this video
I want to give you my 11 or 12
potentially
maybe eleven key tips to basically get
great at networking and and become great
networking also not just for the benefit
of getting connections with meaningful
people but also to enjoy it okay now the
first tip I want to give you is the
following and it has changed my ability
to network effectively over the last few
years massively and it is this come with
a goal what I used to do is I used to go
to a networking and then basically going
oh I hate these things
I'm just going to turn up see what
happens and then what I used to do was I
used to end up at the bar getting a
drink or something then stand around
waiting for people to do something to
get to know me and then when they didn't
I used to just get shy and quiet and I
didn't know what to do anymore and then
I just used to get awkward and then
sometimes I just use disappear now now I
come to the goal and what is that goal
let's say if I go like a few days ago I
went to a YouTube networking event for
YouTube creative and I think that's why
I'm shooting this video because it just
reminded me of many things that I'm just
doing subconsciously now that I didn't
use to do and I decided that if I go to
this event I will try to make five
meaningful connections with people that
I couldn't collaborate with on something
okay
that was my goal I set myself five
meaningful connections with people that
I can collaborate on something and the
other goal I had was I will enjoy this I
will find ways of making this fun for
myself okay so coming with that attitude
changed everything for me okay I had a
great time and even though I probably
overshot my mark and met more than five
people having the goal there was
actually great to make me proactive
letting us on through step number two
take the first step always it always
helps to take the first step to have the
ability to initiate
first contact and the key thing is those
wait for the people to take the first
step with you but take the third step
with them so as an example when somebody
gets into your radius which I would
maybe say is two meters around you yeah
if you see somebody enter into your
space more or less it feels natural
actually to acknowledge them and to
smile at them and to say hi yeah and the
easiest thing you can say at a
networking event is hi are you here for
networking yeah I mean it can't be any
simpler than that sir tip don't be
negative now what I used to try to do a
lot of the old days because I was quite
a miserable guy and quite insecure
because to be honest negativity is
nothing but insecurity disguised I used
to basically try to bond with people
over bad things like oh this event
really sucks doesn't it oh god this wine
is bad you know I used to do that kind
of thing it's terrible you basically put
off everybody because you're becoming
that insecure person that nobody wants
to hang out with even if you meet
another person that is insecure or that
wants to be negative deep inside they
are still look down on you because they
probably think you started it and then
afterwards they feel kind of dirty so
never be negative always be positive
okay focus on the positive aspects of
what you experience okay you bond over
positive don't bond over negative just
don't do it forget about it
fourth tip what happens when you
actually get into a conversation and
you're having a little conversation and
it feels good and you're having a real
bond with them what happens you want to
stay with them don't you for the whole
evening because how finally somebody's
talking to me as you're good with them
we have already exchanged numbers and I
just feel good with them and they feel
good with me maybe we should just stay
together the whole evening and feel good
together
no it's networking okay so once you've
connected and everything is good and you
know how to get in touch with each other
make a point of saying thank you it's
been great meeting you I'm
going to get in touch with you at this
in this time and I'm going to meet a few
more people now so who knows maybe I'll
see you later but have a good time okay
and then you move on you're also
stopping them from connecting with other
people so don't be selfish don't focus
just on how good you they make you feel
let them go okay they'll come back to
you later
tip number five focus on giving first
receiving later okay if you meet
something new you want to focus on
giving something to them so offer to
connect them with somebody that they
want to talk to you offer to help them
with some way because when you do you
show them you prove to them that you
don't just have your own interest at
heart yeah nobody wants to network with
people or meet people again that just
seem to be focused on their own needs
it's okay to be open about your own
needs of course but don't do it at the
expense of the other person tip number
six is something that is a bit of a
master move for networkers okay this is
how you can really earn brownie points
with people and you can also make
yourself feel like you're part of the
setup almost you can feel great about
yourself doing this and that is to
connect people with each other it's by
the way it's also a great way to leave
somebody is actually to say to them you
know I met something that I think you
should connect with earlier and they're
a great person for you to talk to
because you sort of in the same area and
maybe you have a lot in common
let me introduce you to them and then
you take them to the other person and
you introduce them to each other now
they're both going to thank you they're
both going to remember you and they're
both going to be grateful what you've
done for them so that will set you up
nicely maybe in the future to ask them a
favor when you reconnect with them again
you understand what I'm saying so this
is a bit of a magic move for networking
okay
so use this one it's a great move as
well for if you have found somebody that
you don't connect with so much all that
there is no benefit to you to connect
with them again or network or work with
them in some
we will collaborate then you can
literally pass them on to somebody else
that you feel could have a great
connection with them so it's a bit of a
magic move for networking so remember
it's seven always the curious as to the
mutual benefit of what you could do
together okay
mutual benefit and curiosity curiosity
is your friend okay at the networking
event curiosity is great if you are in a
curious mindset you want to find out
about what people do and how what you do
could fit in with that how you could
collaborate is how you could connect
what is the mutual benefit that is the
key question that everybody is there for
so be sure that you focus on the mutual
benefit and not just on your own benefit
okay because that's how you will build
trust with somebody that is there also
of course for their benefit and if you
basically bring out a benefit for them
yourself and you mentioned that up front
with them it builds trust in a builder
connection and it builds a sense of
reciprocity with them tip number eight
conversation balance now nobody wants to
be in a situation where they have to
listen to somebody for three minutes
talking and talking and talking about
their business and never get a chance to
speak themselves so the one thing that
you don't have become is the boring
person that turns on and on and on and
on about themselves at a networking
event okay so always focus on
conversation balance think of tennis the
conversation is the ball or the topic is
the ball sometimes it's in their court
sometimes it's in your court and it goes
back and forth the more you can switch
it back and forth the less likely you
are to bore somebody to tears and also
it gives people a chance to let you know
that maybe you're not going to connect
okay and that's fine too yeah so
conversation balance don't drone on and
on about it and also don't just ask
question of the question of the question
as inflow tip number nine is keep moving
now what I used to do physically is I
used to kind of get stuck I speak to one
person and then they leave and then I
just thought oh ah just
stay here and wait no that's not going
to work you don't have any momentum it's
much easier to get into a new
conversation when you are moving okay
when you move you will notice someone's
eye if you have a bit of eye contact
with somebody just turn to them and go
hey are you here for the networking as I
said earlier right but that's easier
when you're moving when you're standing
like this and you're just waiting for
somebody to talk to you then you know
people are not going to be as likely to
do that for you so much better if you
are moving once you have finished the
conversation with somebody move in a
direction or just see what happens and
you will notice some people's eyes will
meet yours and that's when you turn to
them and start the conversation almost
the last tip is the following that I
already mentioned earlier find a way of
enjoying the process focusing on this
idea of how can I enjoy this process how
can I make this fun for myself is one of
my favorite ways of thinking about this
and trust me when you focus on this it
really focuses your mind
on this aspect of this has to turn into
a fun event for me and if it's not fun
to me it's unlikely to be fun for other
people now you've got the ten or eleven
or twelve basic tips to get great as
networking so now it's up to you to
remake that move and start doing it okay
there are meetup groups there are
networking events that drinks after work
there are entrepreneurs events there are
so many events where you can connect
with like-minded people so go for it
always make the first move enjoy it and
have a lot of fun of these events and
you will notice that actually once you
get into it
it's a lot easier than it seems please
subscribe let me know what you think of
this and let me know your questions
[Music]
[Applause]
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