There are two types of communication that occur at a networking event – verbal and non-verbal.
When attending networking meetings you are encouraged to plan, prepare and practice ensuring you’re armed with the most inspiring introductions, perfect presentations and quality questions.
This is all important but what about the things you say without words, the non-verbal communication.
The way you dress, behave, even stand, all send a message out about you and peoples interpretation of that message will vary based on their own beliefs and experiences. This is assumption and assumptions become truths. Some assumptions may be accurate but other will not be. So all the planned, prepared and practiced words in the world will not have the desired effect and potentially great opportunities will be missed.
| The Danger Area | Your Non-Verbal Communication | Your Message | Perceived Trait |
| Attending | Turning up late
Leaving Early |
Networking is not important
You can’t be bothered You are better than others Your life is more important than others |
Arrogant
Disorganised
|
| Appearance | Scruffy/dirty shoes, stained ties, bobbly woolly jumpers
Hems down, buttons missing Inappropriate dress ie short skirts, low cut tops, medallions… Looking miserable |
You’re not bothered and not professional
You’re a ‘Jack the Lad’.
You’d rather be somewhere else |
Lazy
Lacking Pride
Low Confidence
Depressed |
| Materials | Cheap business cards
Hotmail email addresses Flimsy flyers Poor grammar and spelling mistakes Frantically giving out business cards |
Quality is not important
You rush things
It’s all about you |
Not Credible
No Attention to Detail
You’re a Taker |
| Follow Up | Spamming the email list
Not following up on what you agreed to |
You’re all about you
Your word has no value, you do not deliver |
Lacking respect
Un-professional/Liar |
The answer is simple and the same as for verbal communication – plan and prepare in advance!You may have very valid reasons for being late, dressing inappropriately, using a hotmail email address or not following up, but others won’t know your reasons and will read this non-verbal communication in a negative way.
Opendoorz Business Networking
Excellent post, Cathy. I’d just add a rider – those who spam the list of attendees at a networking event reveal themselves as “junior networkers” as the great business guru, Brian Tracy calls them. They are inexperienced and make the very false assumption that by turning up and informing people of their existence, they will make the sale. You and other expert and experienced networkers will know that to do business, you need to be known, liked and trusted before people will do business with you. Unfortunately for some, it can take a while for that penny to drop!
A super post Cathy – I am a 1 yrs member of BNI, incoming Chapter Director at Ashford M20 BNI on Wed 5 Oct 11 and soon to be an Assistant Director in Canterbury near Ashford. The points you raise above, particulalrly in the table about non-verbal, is spot on and I will use this if I may in future training events. Totally agree about the various networking groups too – forget the name – they are only as good as the people in them and your group is very fortunate to have you! Many thanks. John Murray BSc MNAEA. john@almas-estates.com and info@exclusiveresidential.co.uk