Have you attended any networking events this summer? I just RSVP’d for an upcoming networking event in my area and I have to say, I always get excited at the prospect of meeting new people at events like these. Different people go to networking events for different reasons. People may attend networking events because they were invited by a friend, have seen an ad online, want to fill an open weeknight with a social event or have done some research on professional groups in the area and want to get involved. Whatever the reason may be, networking events can provide great opportunities for professionals to meet at a casual event without any pressure. These events serve as great avenues for creating new business and promoting products or services. More importantly, though, these events are meant to establish meaningful contacts and build relationships.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran when it comes to networking events or just getting started, it’s worth taking note of the people you can expect to meet. Since I’ve started my career, I’ve been to quite a few networking events and have found there are some individuals you’re almost certainly guaranteed to meet while you’re out. So who can you expect to see at your next networking event?
The Connector – Do you know someone who seems to know everybody, enjoys meeting people and likes to help others make the right connections? That person is a connector. If you attend a networking event and know one or meet one, stick by their side! How can you spot a connector? You may have met the connector through another connector, know them from a previous job, went to college together or happen to meet them by chance. Personally, these are my favorite individuals to meet. They are friendly and easy to talk to, good at listening and best of all, this can all actually work for you. What do I mean by that last part? Connectors love networking and understand the importance of it, so these are the people who will help bring people to your life and add value to your networking. At a networking event, they will introduce you to tons of great people and help facilitate your conversations; however, in the end it’s really up to you to seal the deal so don’t expect the connector to do all the networking for you.
The Promoter – We’ve all encountered this person at a networking event. You may find yourself in the midst of networking with one or several other professionals when suddenly someone quickly jumps in, introduces themselves to everyone in the conversation, shakes hands, gives their elevator speech and simultaneously hands out business cards to everyone. The promoter may have a strategy to work the room in an effort to hand out their cards. Whether they choose to only hand out their cards or exchange with others, you’ll find they talk to a lot of people but don’t stay with any one in particular for very long. In the end, it never hurts to take a card or give a card at a networking event, so go ahead and take a card from the next promoter you meet!
The Social Butterfly – Professional networking events often come in the form of cocktail hours to attract attendees with free drinks while they meet and greet; however, these events may also attract another kind of attendee: the social butterfly. This is the person who lives for the free drink and the party. At a networking event, the social butterfly will most likely hang out with people they already know and just want to have a good time. While there’s nothing wrong with having a drink or talking with familiar faces, it’s important to remember that networking events are meant for business, too! You may find that it’s all about the social aspect for the social butterfly (hence the name) and that they never even intended to discuss business at all!
The Quiet One – This may be the person standing in the corner holding onto a drink and watching the event as it unfolds. For one reason or another, you may or may not have found yourself in this situation in the past. If you see someone who is alone, why don’t you take a step up and go talk to them? They may be new to the area, have come alone, or are just as nervous as you are. They could be shy and reluctant and may be standing there in hopes someone will come up to them first. Who knows, it could end up being a great connection for your network!
The Deal Closer – This person is all about selling and closing the deal. If you encounter a deal closer, you will quickly realize it because they will likely keep the conversation focused on their products, services, etc. Opposite of the social butterfly, they are ALL about business at networking events. They want to sell to everyone they can. They may look to sell their services and even try to set appointments right there at the networking event.
The Mentor – The mentor can be your boss, an executive level individual in your organization, an older family member, friend or acquaintance. Mentors should be the people who model success principles that you can you take in your own personal life. They are great to follow and shadow at networking events because they can introduce you to other established professionals very much like themselves. These people want you to grow and succeed so they will be happy to help you in any way they can. Going to a networking event with the mentor is a great opportunity so really try to soak in as much as you can. It would be extremely helpful to take note of how the mentor interacts and behaves at the networking event. You can use this to your advantage the next time you’re at a networking event on your own.
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