Do you feel awkward at networking events? Not sure how to approach someone or what to say? In Japan, at least the formalities of exchanging business cards give us something to do and say, but what else?
At the networking event following TEDx Roppongi, a gentleman came up to me and said, “I feel very shy and don’t know what to do at networking events.”
I told him what I usually do at events where I don’t already know people or I want to talk to new people. I look for someone who’s on their own, smile, say “Hello,” and ask them something simple like, “What do you think of the event?” or “What brought you to the event?” I aim to make this an open question – one that can’t be answered with just “yes” or “no” so that it invites the other person to talk more.
The gentleman said, “Thank you,” and went off into the crowd.
At the end of the event, he came back to me and said, “Thank you so much for your advice. I spoke to lots of people and really enjoyed myself.”
I was so happy that this simple advice had a great impact for him.
Sometimes we think that communication strategies and techniques need to be complex and involve lots of steps or frameworks that are difficult to remember.
What’s important is starting with something simple and doing it.
So, if you normally feel awkward at networking events, I hope you’ll give this a go: find a person, smile, say “Hello,” and ask an open question.
And if you’re someone who has no problem talking to strangers, you can make a contribution by creating space for less confident people around you to take a step out of their comfort zone.
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