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Another evening, another networking event. Seems like a nice crowd. Some friends and familiar faces. Many are milling around aimlessly, looking for someone to talk to. A few appear to know what they are doing; they are here with a plan and a purpose. They obviously know how to get the most out of the time investment of attending. And they are worth observing. Others can learn from them.

Here’s what I see:
* They bring their own name tags – professional looking, legible, easy to read and memorable. It helps you stand out and won’t end up on the floor half way through the evening.
* They sip Club soda, or tonic. Don’t get me wrong, I like a cocktail or three myself, but you are here on business. Ever see an attendee with one too many? It’s not the impression you really want to make, is it?
* Have their business cards ready in a pocket, not hidden in a deep inside some fancy card case – hey I’ve got a couple of those too, but trying to shake hands, swap cards and juggle a glass or a plate of food is quite a trick.
* Show interest in others and ask good questions. Not the just boring ones, like who do you work for – okay, I’ll fess. I ask that myself. You almost have to. But asking things like what are some of your challenges at work, or who do you want an introduction to. It builds a relationship much faster.
* And here’s one that really works – when they hand you their card, look at it for a moment. Comment on their title. And when the conversation wraps up, turn their card over and ask how they like to communicate. Write it down on the back of the card and then follow up. Nothing like making someone feel special to make even a brief encounter memorable.

And isn’t that what business networking is – strategically building a group of diverse professionals who share interests with you?

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