What you see is what you get!

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 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 lateLeaving Early	Networking is not importantYou 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 jumpersHems down, buttons missing Inappropriate dress ie short skirts, low cut tops, medallions… Looking miserable	You’re not bothered and not professionalYou’re a ‘Jack the Lad’. You’d rather be somewhere else	LazyLacking Pride Low Confidence Depressed
Materials	Cheap business cardsHotmail 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 CredibleNo Attention to Detail You’re a Taker
Follow Up	Spamming the email listNot following up on what you agreed to	You’re all about youYour word has no value, you do not deliver	Lacking respectUn-professional/Liar

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.

The answer is simple and the same as for verbal communication – plan and prepare in advance!

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