Meet And Greet Vs. Networking
Contributed by Jay Schroyer
You’re in a room full of business professionals holding hors d’oeuvres in one hand and shaking new acquaintances hands with the other and trying madly to match up names with faces. The last thing you want to start doing is give them something else to juggle. That’s why it’s vitally important, most especially from a first impression stand point, to avoid confusing mingling with networking. There is a fine line of division between the two and although we live in a business world where multitasking is king, there’s no reason to break with social convention and turn your mingling into a full-blown business presentation. Take a moment to reflect on your business social behavior and keep these tips in mind.
Meet & Greet
When you’re circulating throughout the room and meeting people, there is a definitive order in which you do things. First, you introduce yourself by name and perhaps your company affiliation. Then you might start off your conversation with a little small talk concerning the party, the weather or any other fairly neutral topic. You would never dream of beginning your conversation with some sort of sales pitch or favor asking. A meet and greet is just that. You introduce yourself to others, perhaps exchange business cards at the end, and keep in touch. You don’t want to bring your work to the dinner table, do you? That’s exactly what it would be like if you suddenly attempted to pull a networking maneuver during a meet and greet. You can be all business, but the idea of this meeting is mostly pleasure.
Networking
Networking is the actual exchange of ideas, research, and other information that business professionals can use to help each other succeed. Networking is the event that occurred perhaps weeks or months after a meet and greet, when you met someone in the same field as yourself that you developed a good rapport with. You may receive a lead that you can’t use and pass it on to a colleague that you respect and know will do the client right. Or maybe you just got a great tip from an outsourcing company about the price of an item and want to pass it on to your new acquaintance. This is where your professional behavior during the meet and greet will come back to reward you.
Homework
Make sure you research and read up on people attending if you would like to build a fruitful relationship with them. There’s nothing more professional and respectful than meeting a colleague and you’re able to provide current news and history concerning the company he or she works for. This makes you look knowledgeable and well prepared. It will also give you plenty of ammo to shoot back when asked questions or are prompted to begin conversation.
Interrogation
Some meet and greets can start to feel like an interrogation if you meet someone who just asks way too many questions. Keep your questions brief, completely non-personal, and open-ended. This allows the person answering to feel: secure in the knowledge that they’re not revealing too much, that you are genuinely interested and thought out your questions before asking, and that there is no right or wrong answer and plenty of room to expand on the topic at hand. Listen carefully and retain what you are hearing. Nothing is worse than asking a question that has already been answered. Keep eye contact and use your body language to show that you are engaged and actively listening. Keep in mind that whatever question you ask of someone, you may have to answer yourself, so have some answers prepared in advance. Should you get the typical, “what do you do,” be prepared to explain your job or your position in a nice short answer that doesn’t leave your listener overwhelmed.
Keep in Touch
Make sure you come with plenty of business cards to hand out and be ready to receive some yourself. This will become your little black book of names and numbers that you can later use for networking. You can never have too many friends in the business. Follow-up with these people by sending a brief e-mail; say how nice it was to meet them and that they should always feel welcome to give you a call. Keep the lines of communication open. If you built a really good rapport, add them to your Christmas card list. It’s a nice gesture and reminds them not only of who you are, but what you are all about.
Like with any social event, it’s always a good idea to think about how you’re going to act and react to the different situations that you will be placed in. Know the difference between a meet and greet and networking. Stay within the boundaries of taste, manners, and professionalism. And above all, make the best of the connections that you make everyday. You never know when you’ll be in a position that a newly-formed business acquaintance can help you with.
About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.
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