subject: Avoid Being Alone: Network Graciously [print this page] You are in a business conference and the time has come for you to network. You look around and you see groups of people huddled together. As if small circles in a large hall, you become excited and eager to start your objective of distributing your print business cards to establishing networks. You move around and try to penetrate the tightly knit circles but as you approach, the circles become tighter. Undaunted, you start to engage the members of the group in conversation only to realize that they are just nodding out of courtesy and as soon as there is a lull in the conversation, they go back to their circle.
Most of us have been in a situation like this before. The feeling that you are uninvited is a feeling that no one would like to experience. Is there a way to avoid potentially embarrassing situations? How do you avoid being in awkward situation like this? Well, you just have to know how to start a conversation.
Easier said than done. Starting a conversation or breaking into one presents a frightening situation. Experts suggest that there are two strategies to ease into a group and both begin with a polite interruption. The first strategy is more daunting as it is directed at the whole group while the other targets single persons before gaining access into the larger group.
The Group Approach
The group approach, experts suggest, involves a brief introduction or presentation of business card printing followed by an immediate retreat. By not engaging in further conversation other than the quick intro, it becomes evident that you do not intend to take over the conversation or change the natural direction or momentum of the discussion.
After doing your quick intro, the next step is for you to go on listening mode. You want to do this to get a sense of the context and players around you. Once you have solidly planted yourself in the circle, feel free to join the conversation after the others have established that you have been listening respectfully to the discussion going on.
The Single Approach
For those who find a group a bit intimidating, try the single approach. This approach allows you to incrementally access the group. What you want to do is to stand nearby a member of the group until you make eye-contact and then politely and unobtrusively introduce yourself or exchange print business cards. After your one line introduction, throw in a soft-sell about how you would appreciate being introduced to the bigger group.
Then, if you get the introduction, acknowledge everyone in the circle and immediately go into listening mode. Only join the conversation if you feel that you have sufficient understanding of what is being discussed.
