One of the hardest aspects of increasing your own personal wealth is being able to continually climb the ladder. From standing out in your job or building your own business to getting to know more influential people, the journey to wealthy entrepreneurship means having to interact with influencers.
One of the best ways to do this is to network, an activity that requires a good understanding of the best way to present yourself. Here are our tips on how to make the most out of every networking event and work-related party.
Early impact
Sometimes, arriving early to business networking events or even festive parties can give you a chance to chat to other early arrivals and get an overall feel of the event. You might be able to have a vital conversation before anyone else even arrives.
Presentation is key
It doesn’t matter what your gender is: when you look good, you feel good. No matter what persona you’re trying to project at a networking event, you should look clean and confident. This tends to be accomplished by wearing a nice suit with a striking tie to make you memorable, while women should opt for smart business dress with an eye-catching piece of jewellery.
When it comes to Christmas parties, you need to maximise your confidence and stand out from the crowd. Men should look at tuxedos, or a suit jacket and jeans for a more laid-back look. For ladies, women’s dresses are eye-catching and empowering.
Be compassionate and assertive at the same time
When you’re introducing yourself, don’t be overpowering. Networking is a chance to get to know people and to stand out in people’s memory. Be a good listener but also put your points across and illustrate what you and your business can offer.
Once you’ve interacted with someone, follow-up on promising opportunities by contacting them on LinkedIn.
Ditch your pitch
While it’s important to be confident, you don’t want to be pitching your business in one go at events. Instead, you’ll need to keep things light and informal. A networking event is a chance to grow your contacts and your reputation – not to flagrantly sell your product or business.
Stand out
The tricky part about networking is that you need to stand out from the crowd without being pushy or annoying. One way to accomplish this is to have a unique business card that captures the imagination and makes you memorable. This article has some great ideas, such as button-pin badges and goodie bags.
At informal parties, the best way to stand out is to smile and be approachable. As people relax, they’re more likely to open up to the happier person in the room. Don’t talk solely about work — treat the event as a time to show your social side.