| Networking is by far the best vehicle for building | | | | touch on something that you like to talk about. |
| businesses, careers, and your circle of influence. It | | | | When that happens, talking will be easier for you. |
| is through networking that we find advice on | | | | Until this happens, a gentle nod or "oh", will make |
| personal and business challenges, learn of job | | | | you a great conversationalist in their eyes and |
| opportunities, and develop new business. Yet to | | | | they will want to be around you. |
| many, the social aspects of networking events | | | | Eventually the conversation will get back to you, |
| are far outside their comfort zone. Whether it be | | | | but do not dwell on that. By the time it happens |
| shyness, introversion, or a lack of confidence in | | | | your comfort level will have risen to the point you |
| what to say, many at a networking event will | | | | will be okay with it. |
| gravitate to people they know and loss the | | | | This article cannot end until the issue of stretching |
| opportunity to meet new people.If you are | | | | your comfort zone for that initial question is even |
| among these people, it is probably safe to say | | | | realistic. It is not easy to stretch one's self outside |
| that your shyness or introversion has helped you | | | | of the comfort zone. In fact, it is extremely |
| build tremendous listening skills. This listening | | | | difficult. The problem is that when we think of |
| strength is a great weapon for you during | | | | stepping out, we are opening ourselves to |
| networking events. The main problem you are | | | | potentially endless stress. However we can all |
| probably having is that you are so focused on | | | | step out for short periods of time. Think of a |
| your discomfort with talking to strangers that you | | | | burning building. We would not think of casually |
| forget how great it is to be in a conversation with | | | | walking around in a burning building - even if we |
| you. | | | | had full firefighting gear. The most experienced |
| That's right! Great listeners are fun to converse | | | | firefighter struggles with that fear each time they |
| with because they allow the other person to do | | | | must fight a fire internal to a home or office. |
| the talking. People love to talk about themselves. | | | | Yet they do it. |
| With the other person talking, they are typically | | | | Why? |
| revealing things about themselves and getting you | | | | Because they know they can muster the |
| to the point where you are no longer strangers | | | | adrenalin to do it. Now consider yourself. What if it |
| and your comfort level with them is the same as | | | | were house and the Fire Department had not |
| your comfort level with your best friends. | | | | arrived? Would you be able to go into the inferno |
| How do you get them talking to you when your | | | | for a leisure stroll? Of course not - you would not |
| comfort zone stifles your vocal cords? | | | | even try. Now, what if a loved one was still |
| The best way is to expand your comfort zone | | | | inside? I venture to say you would not even think |
| just long enough to deliver short, open-ended | | | | about your comfort zone, you would run inside. |
| question. | | | | When you are at a networking event you CAN |
| An open-ended question, one that cannot be | | | | expand your comfort zone for very brief periods |
| answered with a number of the words "yes" and | | | | of time if your focus is on the briefness of the |
| "no". | | | | expansion and the rewards from venturing |
| They force the other to talk while you listen. Here | | | | beyond its confines. |
| are some examples: | | | | Are you frustrated by your networking |
| = What kind of work do you do? | | | | experiences? MaxImpact's Catapult program is a |
| = How did you get into that field? | | | | powerful coaching program that will expand your |
| = What do you like most about it? | | | | horizons and connect you to your dreams. When |
| = What do you find most challenging? | | | | you reach the point that you are willing to invest |
| = If you had a magic wand, what one thing at | | | | in your dreams, contact MaxImpact at |
| work or home would you change? | | | | 248-802-6138 or via email to Remember, success |
| These questions will get you in a conversation | | | | is available to anyone - they just need to know |
| where you will be able to do what you do best - | | | | how to tap into their potential. |
| listen. As they open up they are very likely to | | | | |