3 Tips For When You Go Business Networking

📅 8th January 2018 | Selling

This is a re-post, originally from 2007. It highlights three hilarious moments from a networking meeting.

Yesterday, I attended a networking meeting in Central London, run by a well known organisation.

There were around 150 or so people there from a variety of businesses. Many were interesting and good listeners, some less so but there were three individuals who really ought to learn the fundamentals of networking.

Here are those three “no noes” for starters:

TIP 1. Do not barge in on a “closed two”.

Situation: I was in conversation with an executive of a well known company. All of a sudden from my left and overweight gentleman with an absurd tie said “hello” and started to ask a question of the executive. No rapport building or politeness. He even had the temerity to ask me to hold his glass of red wine. I put it on the nearest table, made an excuse and left the poor executive to handle “Mr Buffoon”.

TIP 2. Never peer at name badges.

Situation: Two women and I were discussing business opportunities when we were approached by “Mr Nerd”. He leant towards us three, peered at our name badges, then scuttled away after rambling on for a minute or so about the services he offered. Needless to say, my two new friends and I were most unimpressed.

TIP 3. Remain sober and listen.

Situation: The three of us were joined by a fourth and things were going along really well until “Mr Large” turned up. Perhaps I should call him Mr Me, because that’s all he was interested in – himself. Also, he was clearly drunk, rude and bellicose.

All three of these people, Mr Buffoon, Mr Large and Mr Nerd, in my opinion, behaved in a socially inadequate manner. One must always be courteous at a networking event.

Over a decade later, I still see people behaving inappropriately at business networking events. Do you?

Jeremy Jacobs

Tags: networking