Summary: Today's show is about networking - going to an event to meet new people, promoting yourself and your business. The listening questions are: Q1) What does it mean to be twiddling your thumbs? Q2) What boring conversation did I listen to? Q3) How do I try to make a good first impression? (Answers are below the text) Word transcript Networking PDF Transcript Networking ------------- Regular listeners will know that I'm an introvert - I'm someone who prefers to socialise with just one or two people, and I am also happy to spend time alone. To attend a networking event is a challenge for me, as I have to meet a lot of people. I have to tell them about myself. I am expected to small talk, to talk about polite subjects that are generally not interesting to me. However, it is essential that I improve my networking skills - for both my social life here in Dubai and also to promote my business. If I am not good at something, I challenge myself to get better. We should never avoid new challenges just because we feel uncomfortable socially. With some more practise, I know I will get better at networking. Anything we are not good at, we can improve. At a networking event people mingle - you go around and have conversations with different groups of people. You are not networking effectively if you stay with your friend all night. At the networking event I went to, I spoke to a lot of different people. In fact, I never had to start a conversation because people always started talking to me whenever I was twiddling my thumbs, whenever I was alone. Next time I go to an event like this, I am determined to start one or two conversations myself, as this is particularly difficult for me. For me, the real challenge is to initiate, to begin conversations myself. So what was my impression of networking? Well, I did find myself listening to some boring conversations. I recall that somebody dominated the conversation with a long talk about their table tennis club. With hindsight - that's means the ability to understand a situation after it happens - I should have politely excused myself from the boring conversation.. Next time, I will say, 'Excuse me..', as I smile politely and leave. Or you could say, 'Lovely talking to you...' as you smile and leave. Of course, everybody wants to make a good first impression at these events. I tried my best by being positive in all conversations, smiling, and by standing up straight with my arms relaxed. Whenever I shook someone's hand I did so with a firm shake and I smiled at them. I would say, 'Nice to meet you.' I would repeat their name to check I got the pronunciation correct. I've already forgotten the names of nearly everyone I met. Next time I will actively try to remember some more names. Networking is all about 'give and take'. If you meet somebody and decide to stay in touch, to exchange email addresses or telephone numbers, you should be willing to help them out in some way. This way you are both helping each other with new business or social opportunities. You don't have to help them by giving them a business opportunity. It could simply be inviting them to a different event, or introducing them to someone else you know. For me, I also know that I have to improve my networking skills in this area. I will endeavour to be more active, always helping and connecting other people where possible. One of the reasons people don't like networking is because it is associated with schmoozing. A schmoozer is the kind of person you meet at a networking event is insincere, they are not genuine, and they ask you a lot of targeted questions about yourself - to see how important and successful you are. They do this so they can quickly decide if it is in their advantage to talk to you. If you are not important enough for them, they will quickly leave you! which is fine by me... But that said, I know I can learn something from the schmoozers. I can learn to be more assertive,
