1. Name Tags: Wear Them!
Providing name tags (use first and last names that are legible as size matters) is one of the most effective investments that you can make at a networking event. They make meeting strangers easier and are terrific memory joggers when we you see a face that you can’t remember. Although some feel name tags are impersonal, they are just the opposite: they help smooth social interactions at large events and make it easier to meet and greet people with whom you otherwise might want to connect.
2. Introductions: Think Pecking Order!
Research shows that people form 90% of their opinion in the first 90 seconds of a greeting which is powerful. Yet many people do them incorrectly: they forget names, confuse positions, and oftentimes get off to a poor start. Who gets introduced to whom in business is determined by pecking order. Gender is never a consideration. You should always say the most important person’s name first and introduce others to them. It means the person with the highest rank is introduced first, such as, “Madam President, this is Madam Vice President”, or “Mr. Senior Executive this is Mr. Junior Executive.”
3. Listen More, Talk less.
Words matter. What you said and how you say it is important. Always give your full attention to others in conversation. Translation: stop looking at your phone when another person is talking. Make eye contact, focus, and you will automatically be a better listener because the focus is on them, not you!
