It’s kind of a stupid thing for me to say. It might sound like I’m trying to put myself out a job. But it’s just true:

I hate going to networking events.

There.

Sometimes, they’re unavoidable for me. Maybe it’s been organised by a friend; perhaps a business buddy wants to meet me at one. Sometimes I can roll with it and try and have fun – but often, I’m totally not in the mood and can think of twelve other places I’d rather be.

If this sounds like you, here’s a solution:

Set some goals, and give yourself an out.

The Goals

To be clear: I’m not talking about hardcore, specific, person-related goals like, “Guarantee $2m funding for next season” or “Don’t leave without getting a definite YES from the head of Blue Moon Corp”. That kind of pressure is just going to make you want to spend the entire event in a washroom stall, quietly hating yourself and everyone else in the room (or at least the people pleading you to free up the loo).

I’m talking about very easily achievable goals – and ones you could complete within the first twenty minutes, if you were dedicated to them.

Here is my favourite:

“I will talk to three new-to-me people; our conversations will last for at least three sentences from me and three from them”.

Once you’ve done that? Boom. You can go home.

The Out

Pick a time that’s 1.5 – 2 hours after you arrive. Then say to yourself:

“If I’m still not having a good time by then, I’m allowed to go home”

This way, the pressure is off to stay there until the bitter end. When it comes to networking, pressure is the enemy of fun. And effective, ick-free networking SHOULD be fun (more on that HERE).

These are two little tricks that can help take the onus off you having an AMAZING and PRODUCTIVE time and – as is often the case – make it more likely that you actually will.

Networking events are more manageable
when you give yourself a goal or an ‘out’

(CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS)

Over to you

What’s your experience of going to networking events like? Do you avoid them like the plague? Or do you sometimes go full of dread, then have a great time? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks so much for reading. If you know anyone who has a networking event impending, I’d love you to share this with them (or just with your followers). You can use one of those round buttons below.

You rule,

xx (Yes Yes) Marsha

PS want to know my best-ever client secret – and get even more advice, tips, plus stories that I won’t put on the internet? Come and join the Yes Yes Family – it’s free! Just pop your details in below:

Photo credits: Mooganic and: glugevents via Compfight cc

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