Business Toolkit
Time to Dust Off Those Networking Skills
BY ANDREA OBSTON , CLDA DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
If you haven ’ t been able to do face-to-face networking for a while , you ’ re in good company . For most of the last three years , many of us have been making a go of it on Zoom , which we all know is like trying to shake hands underwater .
The good news is that you have the opportunity to meet some of the last-mile industry ’ s most interesting shippers and carriers at the Final Mile Forum in New Orleans . The bad news is that you may be feeling a bit rusty on how to connect with those folks IRL .
Here are a few tips to get you back in the swing of things whether it ’ s at the Final Mile Forum , a chamber of commerce event or the next PTA meeting :
• Arrive on time or even a little early . Early birds have an easier time connecting when conversation groups haven ’ t yet formed .
• Remember you ’ re there to meet new people . Resist the comforting opportunity of spending your time with those you already know . The purpose of a networking event is to make new connections .
• Decide on three to five people you really want to meet before you leave for the event . At the FMF , you can see a list of attendees on the app . For other events , check with the organizers . These people want you to connect so they are usually more than happy to share the list of attendees ahead of time .
• Ask event organizers to point out the people you want to meet when you get to the event . Check the name tags on the registration table to see if they have arrived . At the FMF , you ’ ll want to look for the Board Members who have red ribbons on their name tags . They ’ ll make sure you find those valuable contacts .
• Avoid being an ankle-hugger . This is the person who is so grateful to find someone to talk to at an event that they decide they ’ ll be your “ date ” for the night . Remember you are there to make new connections , so spend 10 to 15 minutes with someone before sharing your contact info and gracefully move on .
• Make note of the people you wish to follow-up with . If you ’ ve made a good connection and would like to build a relationship , you ’ ll want to do that after the event . One trick is to bend down the right-hand corner of their business card ( if that ’ s the way you exchanged information ) and jot down a note on the back about why you want to reconnect . Or you may want to reach out on LinkedIn . NOTE : Make sure you mention how or when you met in your LinkedIn request as opposed to using LinkedIn ’ s standard “ I ’ d like to connect .” It will remind them who you are .
• Remember that a networking event is where you open the door to important connections . It is only in the follow-up that you make the most of those acquaintances . Make the post-event follow-ups a priority or you ’ ll miss the benefits of that initial meeting .
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