July 25, 2024 • 28 mins
Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a lasting impression at a networking event?
This episode kicks off with a hilarious sketch showcasing some common networking blunders, reminding us all about the importance of making a strong first impression. We dive into practical tips on overcoming shyness, avoiding snap judgments, and dressing for success, all illustrated with personal stories that range from triumphant to toe-curlingly awkward. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, our insights are designed to help you navigate the often intimidating world of networking with confidence and ease.
But what separates a good conversation from a memorable one? Tune in as we uncover strategies to keep your networking lively and engaging. Stay ahead of the curve by being well-versed in current events and interesting titbits about the venue, show genuine curiosity about others, and sidestep the usual "What do you do?" with more creative questions. We also share a funny anecdote about networking in an unconventional setting, proving that a sense of humour can be one of your best tools. Plus, punctuality tips and ways to make sure your interactions leave a lasting impression are all part of the package.
Networking isn't just about exchanging business cards anymore. As we navigate the blend of traditional and digital methods, we highlight the importance of observing others, the practicality of digital QR codes, and how to thrive in a hybrid work environment. Discover the benefits of creating personalised networking groups and why live events are golden opportunities for personal PR. Join us for a fun, informative, and heartfelt exploration of how to truly master the art of networking.
As we wrap up this season, we thank our loyal listeners, encourage feedback, and look forward to returning with fresh content after our summer break.
For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.
Reality Training - Selling Certainty
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good afternoon, Bobby .
Are you all primed for thelatest conflab?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Yes, I am actually, and let's open with a little
sketch, shall we?
So let's show people how not tobehave during a networking
event.
I'd like you to come up andintroduce yourself to me.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Hi, hello there, oh sorry, just trying to hold my
coffee cup.
Well, I don't think Is itdrinkable.
Hello there, oh sorry, justtrying to hold my coffee cup
while holding the thing.
Is it drinkable?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Not, really.
No, what is?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
it you do.
Well, what I do is, if you'vegot an office that you don't
like, we can put suspendedceilings in.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Right, okay, I'm going to have to stop you there
because that's absolutely nointerest to me, but nice to meet
you and hope you have a nicesession.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Cheers.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Bye, bye, jeremy's Conflap the Reality Podcast.
Today, ladies and gentlemen,we're talking to you about
(01:14):
networking do's and don'ts.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It's always fun, isn't it?
Why don't we start with some ofthe don'ts, then we'll look at
some do's, then we'll look atsome advice and then we're going
to clear off and have a summerbreak.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
How lovely and I've got some really good don'ts.
Actually, back in the earlydays of our business, I used to
go to lots of networking events.
I used to belong to anetworking group that would meet
up once a month and we'd have abreakfast and then we'd all go
around and introduce ourselvesand the whole thing was
extremely contrived, I'm sureyou can imagine, and so I picked
(01:49):
up lots of tips aboutnetworking at those, and also,
of course, you and I, over theyears, have attended many
conferences, and, of course,conferences are designed to
allow people to network.
Although some of the ones we'vebeen to, I'm amazed that that
is actually still an objectivefor some people.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Well, they write in the program, don't they?
Networking sessions.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yes, which are anything but actually With no
facilitation or no?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
no, they could just put free time, probably do
better.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yes they could.
Or a jolly, or time at the bar,you know, anyway, let's do some
of my don'ts.
Time at the bar, you know,anyway, let's do some of my
don'ts.
So if you are going to anetworking event or going to a
networking conference or to goto something where you are going
to meet people for the firsttime, there's a few key things.
Now I've chosen some things thatI have been guilty of in the
past, so I think it's best tosort of get these out in the
(02:39):
open right now.
So my first one is don't be shy, and that's an incredibly
directive thing to say tosomeone, but I remember going to
a networking event inBuckingham, jeremy, many years
ago, and for some reason I wasgripped with my sort of famous
stage fright that I once got ata conference in Cyprus, you
remember, where I was justmortified.
(03:01):
I have no idea why.
I just suddenly had thisterrible fear of speaking to
people, and I got over it once Istarted.
But I think for some people whoare not used to introducing
themselves and makingconversation, networking might
be a bit of a nightmare.
So I think you have to adopt acertain sort of strategy of
(03:23):
confidence to survive anetworking event and that
shyness is something to beconsidered.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
In the end, nobody really minds, you know no, I,
and I think probably peoplelisten to us who who've
discounted networking becausethey're shy, anxious, whatever
yeah we may not convince you tobegin now no, that's true, that
is true, that is true.
But I mean, yeah, we can comeinto the tips of the antidotes
of that later.
But yes, as you say we'll comeinto how you might overcome that
(03:51):
.
What else have you come up withas a definite don't?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
okay.
Well, I mean, if we listen tothe sketch we did at the
beginning, I've definitely beenguilty of that, although I don't
think I've ever been quite sorude, which is, don't judge on
first look, and often you'll geta tender networking thing.
Walk into a room and with youreyes you will discount more than
(04:15):
two-thirds of the room becauseyou just think none of those
people are of any interest to me, they're not my type, they
think I'm their and I need tofocus on people who look like
they might be my cup of tea.
I could be completely wrong,totally wrong, yeah, totally
wrong, but I think that's ahabit that many of us have.
Now, I've done a lot of work onthis, as you know, and when you
(04:37):
are judgmental at first glanceor first look, it's also a
defense mechanism because youdon't want to put yourself in an
awkward situation yourself.
But I think in networking youmust accept that you are going
to put yourself in slightlyawkward situations and how you
deal with that something I'msure we'll come on to.
(04:57):
But I think partially thatacceptance that you are going to
meet people who, at first look,you think I would never meet
this person socially in anyother context.
It doesn't matter.
How do you know?
And I think it's a bit likemarketing.
You know, I'm also guilty ofthinking well, I hear a
marketing idea.
I think, well, that doesn'tappeal to me.
Well, of course it doesn'tappeal to me.
(05:18):
I'm not the target audience.
And sometimes we need to getover ourselves and think well,
who is the target audience here?
And it might not be the personyou think it is.
I've got another one which issort of a double-edged sword.
Really.
I've put don't be scruffy, yeah, and what I mean by that is, if
(05:40):
you're a builder, you know youdon't need to turn up looking
like you're sort of spackled inplaster.
You know, I think there'snothing wrong with wearing
working clothes, but at the sametime, it perhaps makes you less
approachable if you just comeoff the site do doctors turn up
at networking events withstethoscopes?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
think they should.
And white jackets, whitejackets, yeah, I think that
would be brilliant, yeah,brilliant.
That's a great idea.
Accountants always in a suit,fancy dress networking Come as
you are Great idea and in fact,if you're a bookkeeper, you
should have one of those sort ofgreen visors over your face.
Absolutely brilliant ideathat's so good.
(06:21):
You should launch that.
Now.
Number four is going to be veryhard for people.
Don't sell.
There's a world of differencebetween telling people what you
do, which they may or may not beinterested in, or trying to
sell them something.
So they say, oh, I publishmagazines, great, let me sell
(06:43):
you some training.
No, just explain what you doand let them make the connection
.
Okay, don't start selling tothat person because you can sell
later.
Networking is about meeting andforging connections and
relationships.
Now, lastly, I've got it'slinked to the number two.
(07:06):
Don't judge, but it's also whenyou're talking to somebody, they
may do something that you haveno interest in yourself, no link
to, but you, of course, knowlots of people.
So, actually, who do you knowin your wider network of friends
or relatives who may beinterested in that thing that
(07:29):
person is doing?
So don't completely drop thatconnection because you think
well, there's no businessadvantage to me here, so I'm not
going to pursue it.
Have a moment and think aboutwho else you know, because
actually the networking is notjust the people in the room,
it's all the people that thosepeople know, which is the reason
(07:51):
for doing it.
We're all connected to hundredsof people on LinkedIn.
We're connected, most of us, tothousands of people, and I
think that's another way tothink about it.
You can at the very least bekind and say what you're talking
about has no interest to mewhatsoever.
But I know somebody who thismay be of interest to and I'll
connect you.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
That's a we could argue that that's proper
networking.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
That you are networking, you know, using the
ing you are yeah not justthinking of yourself.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
You're trying to create networks.
Build upon that?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
yes, I think so that's a good list of don'ts.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah, loads of nice do's though, let's take a break,
and after the break we'll comeback with do's and positive
advice reality training wascreated in 2001 by Bob and
Jeremy, both actors who met atdrama school.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Reality delivers training that is effective,
memorable and entertaining, witha touch of theatricality to
bring it to life.
We now have a company oftrainers and actors who you can
utilize to create changeprograms across your business.
Please contact us viarealitytrainingcom.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Welcome back.
I tried to look at interestingquotes about networking and they
weren't brilliant.
No one's written anything thatfunny.
I thought maybe Woody Allenmight have written a thing about
networking.
Couldn't't brilliant.
No one's written anything thatfunny.
I thought maybe woody allenmight have written a thing about
networking.
Couldn't find anything from him.
Dorothy parker, I thought mighthave had a go I don't think it
was a thing you know.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
No, I don't think that's what I'm now.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I don't think people called it that I think you'd be
invited to a well going way backthey were salons.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Oh, yes, yeah, I think you and I should launch a
salon.
Salon sounds for years, what Iwanted to do was move to paris
and start bobby's literary salonthere you go writers coming
over and and artists and models,um you know for lovely and what
I love about that and I've beenreading I think I may have
mentioned this.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
On other part, I've been reading quite a lot of
philosophy with my 16 year oldand nearly all these
philosophers were in salonsdiscussing big ideas Great.
They'd often be half writing anidea and they'd go and run it
past the rest of them and they'dsay, well, that's not bad,
degrawchie, but what you want toadd.
That's not bad, foucault, butwhat you want to add.
And they would go back andexpand upon their theories.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
If only networking was so highbrow, bob.
I mean, obviously you've readall of Foucault, haven't?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
you.
Oh the lot.
Yeah, I've been Foucaulted onit, I've been Foucaulted up, yes
, and I've avoided his pendulumlike mad.
So anyway, let me give youthese two little quaty bits.
And I can't remember his name,bless him.
But he said networking shouldnever be hunting, it's only
(10:44):
farming which I think is quitehelpful.
Yes, that's nice because lotsof sales organizations, and the
famous ones like bni, are aboutlead generation yeah but
actually it's a target, and ifyou don't, hit it.
You see, you know you oustedfrom the group yeah and then the
other one again somebody, notnecessarily famous, says you'll
always meet somebody who knowssomething you do not, which I
(11:07):
thought was quite helpfulbecause we don't know everything
, do we?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
well, not all networking sessions have talks.
I think if they do have talks,you're more than likely to learn
something you don't know.
If it's literally a chat, anintroduction, and everyone glad
hands and goes about their day,then I'm not so sure it's as
valuable.
Now I've got some ideas that Ithink could really make a
difference to people let's givelet's give our listeners some
(11:34):
encouragement about what to doso when you're networking.
You're going to be talking topeople, so what are you going to
be talking about?
Well, my first thing is this dobe topical.
You must have some broadawareness of what's going on in
the world, and if you're able todo that, then you can have
(11:56):
expansive conversations aboutthese subjects.
And lots of these subjects willbe affecting the industry or
the industries that you aremeeting.
So topicality really important.
Listen to the news or the radioon the way in and think what's
going on in the world, and thenyou can discuss it with a little
bit of interest.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So I did a talk about networking at the national
gallery, at a room off thenational gallery for the aoec
who trained us in coaching, andI said, as well as reading the
news, being gend up, don't livein a sort of hole for a week.
You should know something aboutthe place where you're going.
So people's going ever beenhere before?
(12:35):
That's nice.
That's not very so.
If people go we've never beenhere before, that's nice, that's
not very interesting.
But if you go, yeah, it's quiteinteresting.
This has actually been.
This was once a miner'swhatever.
This used to be a post office.
This was a hotel up until 15years ago.
I first came here as a kid.
You should know something aboutthe building and what it's
standing from, why they'vechosen it, what's the connection
(12:58):
?
Because lots of companies tryand choose a building with some
kind of loose connection totheir organisation, don't they?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Well, I once went to a networking group that took
place in the cafeteria of aswimming pool.
It wasn't conducive.
You're introducing your nameand company.
A beautiful woman in a bikinilaunches herself off the top
board and dives into the water,and it's slightly distracting.
Was there a kind of odor of?
(13:23):
Chlorine oh yes, pervading,yeah yeah, and at the end of it
you really wanted a bag offrazzles, you know?
yeah, so funny and you didn'twant to be given them and you
wanted to try and get them outof machine, out of the machine
that would take the money andnot pay.
So isn't it bizarre how we allknow what that means.
So on the subject of talking,so topicality is one thing.
The next thing I think youshould do is be somebody who has
(13:46):
ideas, because you could thensay to anybody you meet what are
you looking for here?
I'm looking for this sort ofclient or that sort of client or
this connection or thatconnection, and ideas are
interesting.
Here's an idea for you.
Now, they may not like youridea, they may not want to do
anything with your idea, but ifyou're somebody who has ideas,
(14:06):
that's incredibly attractive,much more attractive than
someone who goes, no, I can'thelp it, I'm afraid, and moves
on.
So I think be somebody who hasideas.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Which links to my thing of curiosity.
So you should try, try and, asyou've already said, even if it
doesn't interest, you shouldattempt to have a curiosity
about them so that you couldperhaps give them an idea and
say have you tried, have youdone this?
And also, if you split thatback the other way, you can ask
for ideas.
And, as bob's saying, howcrestfallen would it be when you
say have you got an idea for me?
(14:35):
No, no, no, no one gave you anidea.
We should all be able to, togive ideas some kind of.
Have you tried?
Look into this resources, tryover there.
You'll be better off in thenext town.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
They're bigger than us, whatever it might be okay,
now I've got a couple of reallystraightforward ones.
Do be on time, because anetworking event starts and you
stagger in 15 minutes late andit's not a good look.
You're better off not going atall, actually.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So just get up earlier and just be there on
time so how about I talk aboutsome of the sort of annoyances?
So in our training, we'll oftentalk about one of the worst
effective opening questions,which is what do you do?
And you may be asked this bysomebody who's not been trained.
They're going to come up to youand say what do you do?
(15:27):
So rather than going, I dosuspended ceilings.
It's better to frame it in adifferent way.
So Bobby and I are going towrite this out.
He, he's gonna ask me as a badnetworker, what do you do?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
and I'm gonna use my little formula and I love the
fact we're using suspendedceilings, which I know that 50
of our listeners will have.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
In fact, you know what suspended ceilings business
must be not doing as well as itwas I should imagine so,
because most people don't knowwhat they are.
Jeremy okay, should we explain?
So let's just say you workedlike Bob and I did in an office
in the 90s or the 80s.
You look above you.
You've got these awful kind ofyou know you could push it and
hide in it or it would collapse.
(16:08):
They've changed the dynamic ofthe ceiling to hide cables and
things and they've got lightsunken into them because they're
not going to drill straightinto the main wall.
So companies put these awfulsuspended ceiling in as a way of
improving the lighting and soon.
It's pretty dull.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
They do it in shops as well.
There you go.
Yeah, that sort of thing.
Retail fitters would putsuspended ceilings.
Yeah, and as a way of hidingall ales.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Just add another level of a suspended ceiling.
The suspended ceiling couldkeep coming lower over the years
.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
So Bob suspended.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Ceiling the suspended ceiling could keep coming lower
over the years.
So bob's gonna ask me what do Ido?
Okay, and I'm gonna give you aresponse.
Hello there, um, I'm bob.
Well, hi, bob, hi, what?
What do you do?
Well, you know, when you're athome and you are trying to sort
out your car insurance, yeah, oryour house insurance, or you're
wanting to speak to your bank,or you're trying to book your
lovely Audi if that's yoursoutside in for a service, you
know you have to speak to peopleto get these things done, yes.
(17:08):
And when you ring this kind of,that veil of frustration falls
upon you, knowing right from theoff it's going to be a fairly
awful experience of press, one.
You're going to be asked dullquestions and you've got to go
through the rigmarole to try toensure your car yeah, get better
advice.
Yeah, you know what I'm talkingabout yeah, so what we do is we
(17:29):
get hold of those people beforethey speak to you so that they
ask you more exciting questions,so they might suggest something
you've never thought of.
So they sell you something youactually need.
It's what a lot of people mightcall sales training and
leadership training that sort ofstuff.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Got you, got you, okay.
Why don't you ask me what?
Speaker 1 (17:48):
I do so.
Yeah, I was very keen to know.
And you, are you in the sameline of work as me or not?
Speaker 2 (17:54):
well, it's funny, you should say that when you were
talking about all those placesthat people phone into.
Lots of those people will workin offices that were built in
the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s.
What we do is we go into thoseoffices and, rather than spend a
lot of money refurbishing them,we stick in cover-ups all over
(18:16):
the ceilings, which allows us tochange the lighting, change the
wiring at a very, very low cost.
I mean, some people call itsuspended ceilings, but that's
what you do, I call it 250pounds a meter.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Well, I've got a mate who's been complaining about
his office, so I've got someoneI think you could help straight
away.
Sounds good and off we go Dealwith a what do you do question.
Try not to worry, if you aren'tthe most amazing pitcher, you
can be the most amazingquestioner.
(18:48):
That's kind of my thing.
Oh really, how does that work?
Just the curiosity, becausethen people remember you as
somebody who is inquisitive,positive and ask lots of
questions.
You don't have to have all theanswers.
I think it's better to turn upto these things with more of the
questions and the answers no,and I would add something to
what we just did as well.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I don't think you necessarily need to say some
people call it sales trainingsome people call it suspended
ceilings.
I would just say that's what wedo and just leave it at that.
Let them come to thatconclusion.
You don't need to say that NowI've got something to add to
that.
So let's imagine you do meetsomebody at a networking event
who does do suspended ceilings,which you have absolutely no
interest in whatsoever.
Okay, because you're at anetworking event, there is
(19:29):
nothing wrong with saying, well,very nice to meet you.
I'm now going to go and networkwith some more people and just
move on.
You don't need to say what youdo is deadly dull and I couldn't
care less.
You just be polite and move on,because that's what you're
there to do now.
That will maximise your timethere, rather than spending half
an hour locked in aconversation with somebody about
(19:51):
ceilings or flooring.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Because you'll give up networking, then won't you?
You'll go.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
It was fruitlessless.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Just say thanks good to meet you.
I hope you find some peoplewith yeah um, who you can really
help and just move on.
Or if you've got a weak bladderlike mine, you can always go to
the loo and by the time you'reback they're in conversation
with someone else, unlessthey're really dull.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Yeah, exactly, exactly now, the other thing is
you often get fed and you knowquestionable coffee is served
and, uh, bacon rolls and thatsort of thing.
Enjoy all that because it'sfree.
You know questionable coffee isserved and bacon rolls and that
sort of thing.
Enjoy all that because it'sfree, you know, or you've paid
whatever you've paid to turn up.
Then do that, enjoy the foodand wine, and that's actually a
good thing to sort of buildrapport around.
(20:28):
You know, if the coffee isabsolutely undrinkable, then
that is quite amusing becausequite often it's just, you know,
a very poor filtered blend,although I remember in America
we did have an excellentfiltered blend.
It's just, you know, a verypoor filtered blend, although I
remember in america we did havean excellent filtered blend,
which was you know by wolfgang,wolfgang, wolfgang park and
surprisingly, he didn't give aanyway.
So it's great when you have goodcoffee, but it's really good at
(20:50):
networking events, I think.
Coming on to the idea of ofconferences, at conferences you
can of course talk about what'shappened at the conference.
There's your conversation point.
Yeah, there's your love youenjoyed so far.
Oh, I really enjoy thesponsored guy who had obviously
done no preparation whatsoeverand fell over his words and
(21:11):
completely balled up thepresentation he must have paid a
lot.
Yeah, exactly right, that's agreat thing, but no, what's nice
is the ones that surprise you.
I remember once you and I wentto a conference where we'd all
been out till the early hoursthe night before and we all
turned up for the first show at9 30 and it was a guy from a
(21:32):
large ferry company and he justtook the mickey out of everyone
for half an hour becauseeveryone was hung over, didn't
really want to be there, hadtheir heads in their hands and
he actually made something ofthat, rather than trying to do a
corporate presentation whichnobody was going to be receptive
to at that time in the morningand in that state.
(21:52):
So that then made a conversationfor the rest of the conference
and actually made him moreapproachable as a person.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Yeah, so you know that there are things which make
it more conversation I thinkthe other thing that connects is
when you then filter outwhether it's a conference, a
networking session within a dayand conference networking is
part of it or you turn up atsomething and you filter out.
When you see people deep inconversation and giggling and
laughing, that means that theyformed a relationship over time
(22:21):
yeah and it's not for you to go.
Oh gosh, this person's morefunny.
They probably have known eachother for five years, four years
, ten years, so there'll beother people that you can look
at and go.
Well, they don't know anyoneeither.
So just go there.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
You don't have to try and break up conversations so
when you do meet people, ofcourse everyone swaps business
cards and I do wonder about thevalidity of these products these
days.
But of course these days, whatlots of people have is a qr code
on their phone and they offerthat, and you see people
hovering trying to get eachother's qr codes off the and if
(22:55):
it works quickly, then that'sgreat and efficient and modern.
When it doesn't work, there'sthat embarrassing moment where
you're trying to get the digitalthing to pick up, in which case
just give somebody a card and Iknow that we're trying to save
the world and not have so manyprinted products, but actually a
networking place is perfect fora card.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Or just ask for their number and stick it in your
phone.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I mean place is perfect for a card, or just ask
for their number and stick it inyour phone and I mean, yeah, I
think that's really funnybecause you, if you really don't
want to give your number tosomebody, you might just read it
out to them and get one.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Get one digit wrong and and they can't get a hold of
you.
You know, I mean that would bevery cruel.
The other thing aboutnetworking is we could argue,
since the pandemic and thehybrid world that we are now in,
it's almost more important thanever before, because some
people could decide to work fromhome five days a week and never
leave their home, andpreviously there might have been
(23:49):
regional, local, city-basedthings them to partake in.
So I think it's well worth alook, and networking is also by
a number of different filters,so it can be networking by size
of business, so the classic sme.
It can be networking by roletype, so ceo networking, cfo,
lawyer networking, whatever itis you do, you just do enough
(24:11):
research.
You would have to pay to dothat sort of thing.
Oh yeah, I was about to come onto that.
I was about to come on to thata lot of people think networking
is only valuable if it's freeand just by paying a small
amount to cover the bacon rollsand the coffee, which might cost
you 10 pounds a week or 15pounds a fortnight.
That's fine, but you may needto pay a bit more to, in the
(24:32):
same way as dating, to get intoa pool of other people that
might be the right place to swim.
You might need to pay for theluxury of getting into that.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I think we have done a nice little section here on
networking.
We'll be interested to hearwhat listeners think of this
subject and whether they stilldo it and whether it's something
that they've stopped doing,that they might like to start
doing again, doing that theymight like to start doing again.
And, of course, linkedin haslots of groups and different
conglomerations of people whowork in similar industries who
(25:03):
network with each other online.
But I think also there's a casefor having broader connections
through different people,because otherwise you're not
going to meet prospects from upor down the spectrum.
I think also, if you are a newbusiness and you want people to
do your website, your marketing,your accountancy, your
(25:26):
bookkeeping, all those differentthings that you will be wanting
to outsource then a localnetworking club will probably
give you everything, everything.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Well, not just if you're new.
So I was going to say twothings.
I can roll them together.
You might want to start yourown networking group.
So a few weeks back I went toone, an ex-student of mine who
was at the uni, called foundersand friends, in toaster.
He filmed it, took photos.
The photos went on theirwebsite.
Lorraine, who works for, sawthe photos.
Then we found our photographer,so suzanne, who came and took
(25:58):
our images.
So that's all a sort of happycoincidence from attending a
group.
But you might want to startyour own.
You might want to createsomething else and not just, you
know, think they've got to justbe in my village.
Maybe I can drive five miles,maybe I need a better venue,
maybe I combine it it withsomething, maybe I have speakers
(26:18):
, maybe I don't, or maybe youhave a different kind of ethos.
This group wanted people tobecome friends over years.
You know, let's try andactually really support each
other without this quick leadidea.
So I think you could redesignwhat it means to you and set
your own one up.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
And also, I think if you're attending live events, it
gives you something to splurgeon your own social media to show
yourself getting out there andmeeting people.
It's a good bit of PR, so whynot do it?
For that reason alone, it'sbetter than sitting at your desk
hoping that your presenceonline is going to attract
people.
Why not get out there and do abit of both?
(26:55):
Get it to come together in thatway?
In the meantime, enjoy ourpodcast on networking do's and
don'ts.
We will see you after thesummer break with some new
topics and we thank you for yourlistening.
Please stick your reviews andyour comments online and in fact
, you can now send us questionsand things via our various
(27:18):
platforms.
And in the meantime, have alovely summer and I hope you,
jeremy, have a lovely time whereyou're off to and you have a
good summer too.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Have a well-earned break.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I will indeed.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
And we'll be back, probably September.
Can't say exactly when we'll golive, but we will be back
Absolutely At the start of theautumn.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
We'll see you then.
Thank you, bob and Jeremy'sConflap the Reality Podcast.
The Reality Podcast.
Good afternoon, Bobby .
Are you all primed for thelatest conflab?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Yes, I am actually, and let's open with a little
sketch, shall we?
So let's show people how not tobehave during a networking
event.
I'd like you to come up andintroduce yourself to me.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Hi, hello there, oh sorry, just trying to hold my
coffee cup.
Well, I don't think Is itdrinkable.
Hello there, oh sorry, justtrying to hold my coffee cup
while holding the thing.
Is it drinkable?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Not, really.
No, what is?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
it you do.
Well, what I do is, if you'vegot an office that you don't
like, we can put suspendedceilings in.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Right, okay, I'm going to have to stop you there
because that's absolutely nointerest to me, but nice to meet
you and hope you have a nicesession.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Cheers.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Bye, bye, jeremy's Conflap the Reality Podcast.
Today, ladies and gentlemen,we're talking to you about
(01:14):
networking do's and don'ts.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It's always fun, isn't it?
Why don't we start with some ofthe don'ts, then we'll look at
some do's, then we'll look atsome advice and then we're going
to clear off and have a summerbreak.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
How lovely and I've got some really good don'ts.
Actually, back in the earlydays of our business, I used to
go to lots of networking events.
I used to belong to anetworking group that would meet
up once a month and we'd have abreakfast and then we'd all go
around and introduce ourselvesand the whole thing was
extremely contrived, I'm sureyou can imagine, and so I picked
(01:49):
up lots of tips aboutnetworking at those, and also,
of course, you and I, over theyears, have attended many
conferences, and, of course,conferences are designed to
allow people to network.
Although some of the ones we'vebeen to, I'm amazed that that
is actually still an objectivefor some people.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Well, they write in the program, don't they?
Networking sessions.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yes, which are anything but actually With no
facilitation or no?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
no, they could just put free time, probably do
better.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yes they could.
Or a jolly, or time at the bar,you know, anyway, let's do some
of my don'ts.
Time at the bar, you know,anyway, let's do some of my
don'ts.
So if you are going to anetworking event or going to a
networking conference or to goto something where you are going
to meet people for the firsttime, there's a few key things.
Now I've chosen some things thatI have been guilty of in the
past, so I think it's best tosort of get these out in the
(02:39):
open right now.
So my first one is don't be shy, and that's an incredibly
directive thing to say tosomeone, but I remember going to
a networking event inBuckingham, jeremy, many years
ago, and for some reason I wasgripped with my sort of famous
stage fright that I once got ata conference in Cyprus, you
remember, where I was justmortified.
(03:01):
I have no idea why.
I just suddenly had thisterrible fear of speaking to
people, and I got over it once Istarted.
But I think for some people whoare not used to introducing
themselves and makingconversation, networking might
be a bit of a nightmare.
So I think you have to adopt acertain sort of strategy of
(03:23):
confidence to survive anetworking event and that
shyness is something to beconsidered.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
In the end, nobody really minds, you know no, I,
and I think probably peoplelisten to us who who've
discounted networking becausethey're shy, anxious, whatever
yeah we may not convince you tobegin now no, that's true, that
is true, that is true.
But I mean, yeah, we can comeinto the tips of the antidotes
of that later.
But yes, as you say we'll comeinto how you might overcome that
(03:51):
.
What else have you come up withas a definite don't?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
okay.
Well, I mean, if we listen tothe sketch we did at the
beginning, I've definitely beenguilty of that, although I don't
think I've ever been quite sorude, which is, don't judge on
first look, and often you'll geta tender networking thing.
Walk into a room and with youreyes you will discount more than
(04:15):
two-thirds of the room becauseyou just think none of those
people are of any interest to me, they're not my type, they
think I'm their and I need tofocus on people who look like
they might be my cup of tea.
I could be completely wrong,totally wrong, yeah, totally
wrong, but I think that's ahabit that many of us have.
Now, I've done a lot of work onthis, as you know, and when you
(04:37):
are judgmental at first glanceor first look, it's also a
defense mechanism because youdon't want to put yourself in an
awkward situation yourself.
But I think in networking youmust accept that you are going
to put yourself in slightlyawkward situations and how you
deal with that something I'msure we'll come on to.
(04:57):
But I think partially thatacceptance that you are going to
meet people who, at first look,you think I would never meet
this person socially in anyother context.
It doesn't matter.
How do you know?
And I think it's a bit likemarketing.
You know, I'm also guilty ofthinking well, I hear a
marketing idea.
I think, well, that doesn'tappeal to me.
Well, of course it doesn'tappeal to me.
(05:18):
I'm not the target audience.
And sometimes we need to getover ourselves and think well,
who is the target audience here?
And it might not be the personyou think it is.
I've got another one which issort of a double-edged sword.
Really.
I've put don't be scruffy, yeah, and what I mean by that is, if
(05:40):
you're a builder, you know youdon't need to turn up looking
like you're sort of spackled inplaster.
You know, I think there'snothing wrong with wearing
working clothes, but at the sametime, it perhaps makes you less
approachable if you just comeoff the site do doctors turn up
at networking events withstethoscopes?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
think they should.
And white jackets, whitejackets, yeah, I think that
would be brilliant, yeah,brilliant.
That's a great idea.
Accountants always in a suit,fancy dress networking Come as
you are Great idea and in fact,if you're a bookkeeper, you
should have one of those sort ofgreen visors over your face.
Absolutely brilliant ideathat's so good.
(06:21):
You should launch that.
Now.
Number four is going to be veryhard for people.
Don't sell.
There's a world of differencebetween telling people what you
do, which they may or may not beinterested in, or trying to
sell them something.
So they say, oh, I publishmagazines, great, let me sell
(06:43):
you some training.
No, just explain what you doand let them make the connection
.
Okay, don't start selling tothat person because you can sell
later.
Networking is about meeting andforging connections and
relationships.
Now, lastly, I've got it'slinked to the number two.
(07:06):
Don't judge, but it's also whenyou're talking to somebody, they
may do something that you haveno interest in yourself, no link
to, but you, of course, knowlots of people.
So, actually, who do you knowin your wider network of friends
or relatives who may beinterested in that thing that
(07:29):
person is doing?
So don't completely drop thatconnection because you think
well, there's no businessadvantage to me here, so I'm not
going to pursue it.
Have a moment and think aboutwho else you know, because
actually the networking is notjust the people in the room,
it's all the people that thosepeople know, which is the reason
(07:51):
for doing it.
We're all connected to hundredsof people on LinkedIn.
We're connected, most of us, tothousands of people, and I
think that's another way tothink about it.
You can at the very least bekind and say what you're talking
about has no interest to mewhatsoever.
But I know somebody who thismay be of interest to and I'll
connect you.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
That's a we could argue that that's proper
networking.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
That you are networking, you know, using the
ing you are yeah not justthinking of yourself.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
You're trying to create networks.
Build upon that?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
yes, I think so that's a good list of don'ts.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah, loads of nice do's though, let's take a break,
and after the break we'll comeback with do's and positive
advice reality training wascreated in 2001 by Bob and
Jeremy, both actors who met atdrama school.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Reality delivers training that is effective,
memorable and entertaining, witha touch of theatricality to
bring it to life.
We now have a company oftrainers and actors who you can
utilize to create changeprograms across your business.
Please contact us viarealitytrainingcom.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Welcome back.
I tried to look at interestingquotes about networking and they
weren't brilliant.
No one's written anything thatfunny.
I thought maybe Woody Allenmight have written a thing about
networking.
Couldn't't brilliant.
No one's written anything thatfunny.
I thought maybe woody allenmight have written a thing about
networking.
Couldn't find anything from him.
Dorothy parker, I thought mighthave had a go I don't think it
was a thing you know.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
No, I don't think that's what I'm now.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I don't think people called it that I think you'd be
invited to a well going way backthey were salons.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Oh, yes, yeah, I think you and I should launch a
salon.
Salon sounds for years, what Iwanted to do was move to paris
and start bobby's literary salonthere you go writers coming
over and and artists and models,um you know for lovely and what
I love about that and I've beenreading I think I may have
mentioned this.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
On other part, I've been reading quite a lot of
philosophy with my 16 year oldand nearly all these
philosophers were in salonsdiscussing big ideas Great.
They'd often be half writing anidea and they'd go and run it
past the rest of them and they'dsay, well, that's not bad,
degrawchie, but what you want toadd.
That's not bad, foucault, butwhat you want to add.
And they would go back andexpand upon their theories.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
If only networking was so highbrow, bob.
I mean, obviously you've readall of Foucault, haven't?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
you.
Oh the lot.
Yeah, I've been Foucaulted onit, I've been Foucaulted up, yes
, and I've avoided his pendulumlike mad.
So anyway, let me give youthese two little quaty bits.
And I can't remember his name,bless him.
But he said networking shouldnever be hunting, it's only
(10:44):
farming which I think is quitehelpful.
Yes, that's nice because lotsof sales organizations, and the
famous ones like bni, are aboutlead generation yeah but
actually it's a target, and ifyou don't, hit it.
You see, you know you oustedfrom the group yeah and then the
other one again somebody, notnecessarily famous, says you'll
always meet somebody who knowssomething you do not, which I
(11:07):
thought was quite helpfulbecause we don't know everything
, do we?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
well, not all networking sessions have talks.
I think if they do have talks,you're more than likely to learn
something you don't know.
If it's literally a chat, anintroduction, and everyone glad
hands and goes about their day,then I'm not so sure it's as
valuable.
Now I've got some ideas that Ithink could really make a
difference to people let's givelet's give our listeners some
(11:34):
encouragement about what to doso when you're networking.
You're going to be talking topeople, so what are you going to
be talking about?
Well, my first thing is this dobe topical.
You must have some broadawareness of what's going on in
the world, and if you're able todo that, then you can have
(11:56):
expansive conversations aboutthese subjects.
And lots of these subjects willbe affecting the industry or
the industries that you aremeeting.
So topicality really important.
Listen to the news or the radioon the way in and think what's
going on in the world, and thenyou can discuss it with a little
bit of interest.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So I did a talk about networking at the national
gallery, at a room off thenational gallery for the aoec
who trained us in coaching, andI said, as well as reading the
news, being gend up, don't livein a sort of hole for a week.
You should know something aboutthe place where you're going.
So people's going ever beenhere before?
(12:35):
That's nice.
That's not very so.
If people go we've never beenhere before, that's nice, that's
not very interesting.
But if you go, yeah, it's quiteinteresting.
This has actually been.
This was once a miner'swhatever.
This used to be a post office.
This was a hotel up until 15years ago.
I first came here as a kid.
You should know something aboutthe building and what it's
standing from, why they'vechosen it, what's the connection
(12:58):
?
Because lots of companies tryand choose a building with some
kind of loose connection totheir organisation, don't they?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Well, I once went to a networking group that took
place in the cafeteria of aswimming pool.
It wasn't conducive.
You're introducing your nameand company.
A beautiful woman in a bikinilaunches herself off the top
board and dives into the water,and it's slightly distracting.
Was there a kind of odor of?
(13:23):
Chlorine oh yes, pervading,yeah yeah, and at the end of it
you really wanted a bag offrazzles, you know?
yeah, so funny and you didn'twant to be given them and you
wanted to try and get them outof machine, out of the machine
that would take the money andnot pay.
So isn't it bizarre how we allknow what that means.
So on the subject of talking,so topicality is one thing.
The next thing I think youshould do is be somebody who has
(13:46):
ideas, because you could thensay to anybody you meet what are
you looking for here?
I'm looking for this sort ofclient or that sort of client or
this connection or thatconnection, and ideas are
interesting.
Here's an idea for you.
Now, they may not like youridea, they may not want to do
anything with your idea, but ifyou're somebody who has ideas,
(14:06):
that's incredibly attractive,much more attractive than
someone who goes, no, I can'thelp it, I'm afraid, and moves
on.
So I think be somebody who hasideas.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Which links to my thing of curiosity.
So you should try, try and, asyou've already said, even if it
doesn't interest, you shouldattempt to have a curiosity
about them so that you couldperhaps give them an idea and
say have you tried, have youdone this?
And also, if you split thatback the other way, you can ask
for ideas.
And, as bob's saying, howcrestfallen would it be when you
say have you got an idea for me?
(14:35):
No, no, no, no one gave you anidea.
We should all be able to, togive ideas some kind of.
Have you tried?
Look into this resources, tryover there.
You'll be better off in thenext town.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
They're bigger than us, whatever it might be okay,
now I've got a couple of reallystraightforward ones.
Do be on time, because anetworking event starts and you
stagger in 15 minutes late andit's not a good look.
You're better off not going atall, actually.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So just get up earlier and just be there on
time so how about I talk aboutsome of the sort of annoyances?
So in our training, we'll oftentalk about one of the worst
effective opening questions,which is what do you do?
And you may be asked this bysomebody who's not been trained.
They're going to come up to youand say what do you do?
(15:27):
So rather than going, I dosuspended ceilings.
It's better to frame it in adifferent way.
So Bobby and I are going towrite this out.
He, he's gonna ask me as a badnetworker, what do you do?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
and I'm gonna use my little formula and I love the
fact we're using suspendedceilings, which I know that 50
of our listeners will have.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
In fact, you know what suspended ceilings business
must be not doing as well as itwas I should imagine so,
because most people don't knowwhat they are.
Jeremy okay, should we explain?
So let's just say you workedlike Bob and I did in an office
in the 90s or the 80s.
You look above you.
You've got these awful kind ofyou know you could push it and
hide in it or it would collapse.
(16:08):
They've changed the dynamic ofthe ceiling to hide cables and
things and they've got lightsunken into them because they're
not going to drill straightinto the main wall.
So companies put these awfulsuspended ceiling in as a way of
improving the lighting and soon.
It's pretty dull.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
They do it in shops as well.
There you go.
Yeah, that sort of thing.
Retail fitters would putsuspended ceilings.
Yeah, and as a way of hidingall ales.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Just add another level of a suspended ceiling.
The suspended ceiling couldkeep coming lower over the years
.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
So Bob suspended.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Ceiling the suspended ceiling could keep coming lower
over the years.
So bob's gonna ask me what do Ido?
Okay, and I'm gonna give you aresponse.
Hello there, um, I'm bob.
Well, hi, bob, hi, what?
What do you do?
Well, you know, when you're athome and you are trying to sort
out your car insurance, yeah, oryour house insurance, or you're
wanting to speak to your bank,or you're trying to book your
lovely Audi if that's yoursoutside in for a service, you
know you have to speak to peopleto get these things done, yes.
(17:08):
And when you ring this kind of,that veil of frustration falls
upon you, knowing right from theoff it's going to be a fairly
awful experience of press, one.
You're going to be asked dullquestions and you've got to go
through the rigmarole to try toensure your car yeah, get better
advice.
Yeah, you know what I'm talkingabout yeah, so what we do is we
(17:29):
get hold of those people beforethey speak to you so that they
ask you more exciting questions,so they might suggest something
you've never thought of.
So they sell you something youactually need.
It's what a lot of people mightcall sales training and
leadership training that sort ofstuff.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Got you, got you, okay.
Why don't you ask me what?
Speaker 1 (17:48):
I do so.
Yeah, I was very keen to know.
And you, are you in the sameline of work as me or not?
Speaker 2 (17:54):
well, it's funny, you should say that when you were
talking about all those placesthat people phone into.
Lots of those people will workin offices that were built in
the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s.
What we do is we go into thoseoffices and, rather than spend a
lot of money refurbishing them,we stick in cover-ups all over
(18:16):
the ceilings, which allows us tochange the lighting, change the
wiring at a very, very low cost.
I mean, some people call itsuspended ceilings, but that's
what you do, I call it 250pounds a meter.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Well, I've got a mate who's been complaining about
his office, so I've got someoneI think you could help straight
away.
Sounds good and off we go Dealwith a what do you do question.
Try not to worry, if you aren'tthe most amazing pitcher, you
can be the most amazingquestioner.
(18:48):
That's kind of my thing.
Oh really, how does that work?
Just the curiosity, becausethen people remember you as
somebody who is inquisitive,positive and ask lots of
questions.
You don't have to have all theanswers.
I think it's better to turn upto these things with more of the
questions and the answers no,and I would add something to
what we just did as well.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I don't think you necessarily need to say some
people call it sales trainingsome people call it suspended
ceilings.
I would just say that's what wedo and just leave it at that.
Let them come to thatconclusion.
You don't need to say that NowI've got something to add to
that.
So let's imagine you do meetsomebody at a networking event
who does do suspended ceilings,which you have absolutely no
interest in whatsoever.
Okay, because you're at anetworking event, there is
(19:29):
nothing wrong with saying, well,very nice to meet you.
I'm now going to go and networkwith some more people and just
move on.
You don't need to say what youdo is deadly dull and I couldn't
care less.
You just be polite and move on,because that's what you're
there to do now.
That will maximise your timethere, rather than spending half
an hour locked in aconversation with somebody about
(19:51):
ceilings or flooring.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Because you'll give up networking, then won't you?
You'll go.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
It was fruitlessless.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Just say thanks good to meet you.
I hope you find some peoplewith yeah um, who you can really
help and just move on.
Or if you've got a weak bladderlike mine, you can always go to
the loo and by the time you'reback they're in conversation
with someone else, unlessthey're really dull.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Yeah, exactly, exactly now, the other thing is
you often get fed and you knowquestionable coffee is served
and, uh, bacon rolls and thatsort of thing.
Enjoy all that because it'sfree.
You know questionable coffee isserved and bacon rolls and that
sort of thing.
Enjoy all that because it'sfree, you know, or you've paid
whatever you've paid to turn up.
Then do that, enjoy the foodand wine, and that's actually a
good thing to sort of buildrapport around.
(20:28):
You know, if the coffee isabsolutely undrinkable, then
that is quite amusing becausequite often it's just, you know,
a very poor filtered blend,although I remember in America
we did have an excellentfiltered blend.
It's just, you know, a verypoor filtered blend, although I
remember in america we did havean excellent filtered blend,
which was you know by wolfgang,wolfgang, wolfgang park and
surprisingly, he didn't give aanyway.
So it's great when you have goodcoffee, but it's really good at
(20:50):
networking events, I think.
Coming on to the idea of ofconferences, at conferences you
can of course talk about what'shappened at the conference.
There's your conversation point.
Yeah, there's your love youenjoyed so far.
Oh, I really enjoy thesponsored guy who had obviously
done no preparation whatsoeverand fell over his words and
(21:11):
completely balled up thepresentation he must have paid a
lot.
Yeah, exactly right, that's agreat thing, but no, what's nice
is the ones that surprise you.
I remember once you and I wentto a conference where we'd all
been out till the early hoursthe night before and we all
turned up for the first show at9 30 and it was a guy from a
(21:32):
large ferry company and he justtook the mickey out of everyone
for half an hour becauseeveryone was hung over, didn't
really want to be there, hadtheir heads in their hands and
he actually made something ofthat, rather than trying to do a
corporate presentation whichnobody was going to be receptive
to at that time in the morningand in that state.
(21:52):
So that then made a conversationfor the rest of the conference
and actually made him moreapproachable as a person.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Yeah, so you know that there are things which make
it more conversation I thinkthe other thing that connects is
when you then filter outwhether it's a conference, a
networking session within a dayand conference networking is
part of it or you turn up atsomething and you filter out.
When you see people deep inconversation and giggling and
laughing, that means that theyformed a relationship over time
(22:21):
yeah and it's not for you to go.
Oh gosh, this person's morefunny.
They probably have known eachother for five years, four years
, ten years, so there'll beother people that you can look
at and go.
Well, they don't know anyoneeither.
So just go there.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
You don't have to try and break up conversations so
when you do meet people, ofcourse everyone swaps business
cards and I do wonder about thevalidity of these products these
days.
But of course these days, whatlots of people have is a qr code
on their phone and they offerthat, and you see people
hovering trying to get eachother's qr codes off the and if
(22:55):
it works quickly, then that'sgreat and efficient and modern.
When it doesn't work, there'sthat embarrassing moment where
you're trying to get the digitalthing to pick up, in which case
just give somebody a card and Iknow that we're trying to save
the world and not have so manyprinted products, but actually a
networking place is perfect fora card.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Or just ask for their number and stick it in your
phone.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I mean place is perfect for a card, or just ask
for their number and stick it inyour phone and I mean, yeah, I
think that's really funnybecause you, if you really don't
want to give your number tosomebody, you might just read it
out to them and get one.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Get one digit wrong and and they can't get a hold of
you.
You know, I mean that would bevery cruel.
The other thing aboutnetworking is we could argue,
since the pandemic and thehybrid world that we are now in,
it's almost more important thanever before, because some
people could decide to work fromhome five days a week and never
leave their home, andpreviously there might have been
(23:49):
regional, local, city-basedthings them to partake in.
So I think it's well worth alook, and networking is also by
a number of different filters,so it can be networking by size
of business, so the classic sme.
It can be networking by roletype, so ceo networking, cfo,
lawyer networking, whatever itis you do, you just do enough
(24:11):
research.
You would have to pay to dothat sort of thing.
Oh yeah, I was about to come onto that.
I was about to come on to thata lot of people think networking
is only valuable if it's freeand just by paying a small
amount to cover the bacon rollsand the coffee, which might cost
you 10 pounds a week or 15pounds a fortnight.
That's fine, but you may needto pay a bit more to, in the
(24:32):
same way as dating, to get intoa pool of other people that
might be the right place to swim.
You might need to pay for theluxury of getting into that.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I think we have done a nice little section here on
networking.
We'll be interested to hearwhat listeners think of this
subject and whether they stilldo it and whether it's something
that they've stopped doing,that they might like to start
doing again, doing that theymight like to start doing again.
And, of course, linkedin haslots of groups and different
conglomerations of people whowork in similar industries who
(25:03):
network with each other online.
But I think also there's a casefor having broader connections
through different people,because otherwise you're not
going to meet prospects from upor down the spectrum.
I think also, if you are a newbusiness and you want people to
do your website, your marketing,your accountancy, your
(25:26):
bookkeeping, all those differentthings that you will be wanting
to outsource then a localnetworking club will probably
give you everything, everything.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Well, not just if you're new.
So I was going to say twothings.
I can roll them together.
You might want to start yourown networking group.
So a few weeks back I went toone, an ex-student of mine who
was at the uni, called foundersand friends, in toaster.
He filmed it, took photos.
The photos went on theirwebsite.
Lorraine, who works for, sawthe photos.
Then we found our photographer,so suzanne, who came and took
(25:58):
our images.
So that's all a sort of happycoincidence from attending a
group.
But you might want to startyour own.
You might want to createsomething else and not just, you
know, think they've got to justbe in my village.
Maybe I can drive five miles,maybe I need a better venue,
maybe I combine it it withsomething, maybe I have speakers
(26:18):
, maybe I don't, or maybe youhave a different kind of ethos.
This group wanted people tobecome friends over years.
You know, let's try andactually really support each
other without this quick leadidea.
So I think you could redesignwhat it means to you and set
your own one up.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
And also, I think if you're attending live events, it
gives you something to splurgeon your own social media to show
yourself getting out there andmeeting people.
It's a good bit of PR, so whynot do it?
For that reason alone, it'sbetter than sitting at your desk
hoping that your presenceonline is going to attract
people.
Why not get out there and do abit of both?
(26:55):
Get it to come together in thatway?
In the meantime, enjoy ourpodcast on networking do's and
don'ts.
We will see you after thesummer break with some new
topics and we thank you for yourlistening.
Please stick your reviews andyour comments online and in fact
, you can now send us questionsand things via our various
(27:18):
platforms.
And in the meantime, have alovely summer and I hope you,
jeremy, have a lovely time whereyou're off to and you have a
good summer too.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Have a well-earned break.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I will indeed.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
And we'll be back, probably September.
Can't say exactly when we'll golive, but we will be back
Absolutely At the start of theautumn.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
We'll see you then.
Thank you, bob and Jeremy'sConflap the Reality Podcast.
The Reality Podcast.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com