Be a positive influence

© Paul Johnstone

To get the best out of your Networking a positive approach if helpful. Be positive when you network. If you are positive you are more likely to attract others and as a result get to speak to more people more often.

Use positive language.

Smile. See the good in people.

Be known as a really positive person. It rubs off on others and people will warm to you for being so. It is good practice if you Keep your emotional criticisms of others and personal hang-ups to yourself.

Speak ill of no-one.

Be passionate and enthusiastic, but not emotional or subjective. Avoid personalising situations and always remain objective.

Look for feedback and criticism about yourself and your ideas from others. It is the most valuable market research you can obtain - and it's totally free.

Be tolerant. Be patient. Be calm and serene - especially when others become agitated. Followers gather around people who remain positive and calm under pressure, and who resist the herding tendencies of weaker souls.

At many networking events and situations you will have the opportunity to give a presentation to the assembled group. This is a wonderful chance for you to demonstrate your expertise in your specialist area, your positive confident character, and also to pass on some useful information.

When presetting avoid the hard-sales pitch.

Networking is more about telling a storey and informing people. It’s best to inform and educate rather than to sell. In many networking situations a strong selling presentation is regarded as insulting by those present. This is especially so if you are a guest of a group that you would not normally meet regularly. You will sell yourself best by giving helpful information in a professional and entertaining credible manner.

Be confident, positive and enthusiastic, but do not let this develop into pressure on the audience, or a sense of your trying too hard.

Try to find and present within your specialism the most helpful information for the group concerned. Your aim at the end of the presentation is for the audience to have learnt something useful about your area as it applies to them, and to have been impressed with your professionalism and command of your subject.

Helping Real People do Real Business thorugh Real Networking