If you have anxiety about networking events, you are far from alone. Even the most self-assured professionals sometimes struggle to make genuine connections during crowded industry gatherings, but we train Universal Events associates to make the most of them. Here are a few strategies we recommend for overcoming your fear of networking:
• Do Plenty of Research: When you already know something about the people who will be in attendance, you have a head start toward real connections. Explore company websites and social media to find some common ground with potential contacts before the event gets underway.
• Arrive Right on Time: In other words, don’t arrive so early that you have to stand around with a few other people waiting for the crowd to assemble. Not only is it awkward to wait with strangers, being too early assures that any discussion you initiate will be distracted as new people trickle through the doors.
• Ask the Right Kinds of Questions: We at Universal Events suggest that you pose open-ended questions to all the people you hope to connect with, because you want to keep them talking as much as possible. The more you learn about someone’s experiences and skills, the better equipped you will be to forge a lasting bond.
Keep these points from Universal Events in mind the next time you attend a big event of any kind.
