Networking events can be the perfect ground to be your authentic self and champion your true beliefs, says Nishtha Chugh
When we are networking, first impressions are important. The innate human desire to impress others is rooted in our evolutionary need to forge bonds and strong connections with our peers. In prehistoric times, being part of a group protected us from threats and predators and was fundamental to our survival. Two millennia later, success in career and social relations is the new definition of survival. We seek professional and social validation from our peers, with networking events now serving as our new savannas.
The rationale behind strong and positive impressions may be driven by science, but they can be purposefully delivered using the art of social skills. Here are some strategies to help you network effectively.
The Microphone Technique
Meeting strangers in a formal setting with the intent to make connections is in fact a form of public speaking. You may not be on the stage facing an audience, but you are essentially performing the same role. In both instances, you are presenting yourself or your ideas and seeking endorsement and validation from your peers.
An effective way to make a strong first impression with an important group is to use the microphone technique. When introducing yourself to the group, imagine standing on a stage (or on live radio) with a microphone. This mental exercise helps in two ways: first, you are likely to speak in concise sentences with a better selection of words, and second, your voice and cadence will sound more measured. You will be surprised to see how employing this technique purposefully can instantly prime your audience to tune into what you have to say.
Say My Name (Correctly)
Our workplaces and social circles are becoming increasingly diverse. Shifting attitudes towards culture and identity in recent years means a growing number of people from diverse backgrounds are choosing not to anglicize their names in our predominantly English-language-driven workplaces. People like to hear their names or at least see peers make an effort to spell or pronounce them correctly. It helps affirm their existence and reinforces their sense of self. Proactively asking a person to help you with the pronunciation of their unfamiliar or challenging name can be the simplest yet most powerful way to show respect and establish positive association. It’s worth remembering that requesting people to repeat their names is still more polite than asking them for a shorter name or nickname.
Pause for Power
What are your most memorable movie scenes or speeches? Would you describe them as powerful and moving? Watch them again and you will notice that their impact and profundity, in all likelihood, is down to the well-timed pauses in their delivery. Pausing before and after important ideas helps to create emphasis and significance. This not only allows the audience to absorb the message more intently, it also makes the speaker appear more confident and powerful.
Most importantly, pauses help the speaker avoid using filler words like ah and um, which are often seen as a sign of weak communication and poor preparation.
Talk With Your Hands
An analysis of TED Talks a few years ago revealed that the most viral speakers used an average of nearly 465 hand gestures. The least popular speakers, on the other hand, used half as many. Even with the sound off, speeches with more hand gestures received higher scores from test volunteers on trustworthiness and charisma than those with fewer gestures. In other words, what was said was less impactful than how it was said. In another study, researchers found that using hand gestures increased the value of the spoken message by 60 percent. Combining verbal and nonverbal cues enhanced information processing and recall.
When addressing a small group or an audience, allow your hands to complement your spoken communication. Hands indicate intention. Using them effectively and purposefully can help establish trust and credibility with your peers.
Listen With Your Eyes
Positive first impressions and interactions do not consist of confident verbal and non-verbal speech alone. Constructive engagement in small groups, like those in the networking events, also depends on your ability to listen effectively. At Toastmasters International, we emphasise the need to develop listening skills as much as speaking skills.
To establish a connection with your group, it’s important that you listen not just with your ears but your eyes too. This means active and attentive visual listening by paying close attention to the person you want to build a rapport with. Making eye contact with them and observing their posture, facial expressions, and body language will help you gain insights into their intentions and emotions. This also reflects authenticity and sincerity on your part.
Something to Remember
Events like networking require repetitive and seemingly mundane exchange of basic information such as names, vocation and interests. In professional settings people often balk at the idea of saying anything unusual or adding ‘colourful’ details when introducing themselves. But these elements are exactly what can make you stand out and appear instantaneously interesting, leaving your peers with something to remember you by long after you’ve met them. The key is to do it skilfully and within context.
For example, Steve Jobs once introduced himself at a commencement speech by saying he had never graduated from college. Businessman Richard Branson once greeted a gathering with “Hi, I’m Richard Branson, and I once dressed up as a female flight attendant on one of my airlines just to entertain the passengers and fulfil a bet.” And this is how tennis ace Steffi Graf once opened a conversation: “I’m Steffi Graf, and my backhand is so fierce that it has its own fan club.”
Incorporating a humorous fact, surprising statement or professional anecdote into your introduction can be a powerful tool to create a positive and memorable impression. Whether new connections lead to immediate opportunities or not, they are likely to remember you as authentic, relatable and unique.
Be Yourself
The ubiquity of the phrase on personal growth posters may have reduced it to a cliché, but therein lies the advice that many of us are often afraid to follow. Being yourself can often mean going against the grain, challenging established practices or speaking your mind even at the risk of alienating others. Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian obstetrician, was ridiculed by his peers in 1847 when he first mooted the idea of washing hands before treating patients to reduce mortality rates. Despite pushback from fellow medics, Semmelweis had the courage of conviction and continued advocating for his ‘radical hypothesis’ of better hand hygiene, now a cornerstone of modern medicine practices.
In the present times, being your authentic self and standing up for your values is, thankfully, less punitive and antagonistic. Yet the fear of breaking ranks with prevalent opinions and conventions holds people back from being themselves. We admire mavericks yet we adhere to conventions for fear of rejection or criticism from peers, colleagues and family. While being authentic can be a double-edged sword, it can serve as a highly useful filter to attract the right kind of allies and like-minded professionals.
Networking events can be the perfect ground to be your authentic self and champion your true beliefs. Not only will this inspire authentic conversations around new ideas, but it will also lead to meaningful connections. Additionally, you are more likely to come across as trustworthy and passionate.
References
https://www.scienceofpeople.com/5-secrets-of-a-successful-ted-talk/
