Have you ever wondered what a person who you’re meeting for the first time could be looking for in conversation from you?
We network, ask what others do for a living, talk about the weather and the turnout of attendees at the event, but it’s rare we get to the grit of why we’re there – we want to be understood.
We have two actions we can take at a networking event or anywhere we’re meeting new people for the first time.
We can stand around waiting for someone to talk to us and to understand what struggle we’re dealing with related to why we’re at the event.
Or we can remove our concerns from the equation and recognize the struggle of others.
At an event filled with lawyers, loan officers and entrepreneurs I was in search of what would make the lawyers tick. What’s their struggle? After enough prodding, I asked the right question. “Do you work with the three-tier system in Wisconsin?”
Ding ding ding.
From there the conversation cruised, the connection solidified and I made a legal friend to quote in stories and consult.
Sometimes networking isn’t all about what we can give to others.
I had no way of making this guy’s life any easier. I had no answers for him.
Sometimes networking done right is just listening and caring about the struggle of others.
Stay Positive & Embrace The Struggle
Photo credit
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