How to introduce yourself at networking. The ONLE Networking Show ep18 with Brian Hilliard
Kelly and James discuss the different approaches to the networking introduction and how best to engage your audience from the first impression. Plus we hear members’ advice from across ONLE about avoiding burnout in the busy world of business.
Plus, we interview professional speaker and coach, Brian Hilliard, about how networking has changed with the shift online as well as an exclusive insight into his NBA Mount Rushmore lineup! From his experience being a coauthor of ‘Networking Like A Pro’ with founder of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner, Brian provides his expert opinion on how networking is a must if you want to ensure the success of your small business and why he rejects the premise of being too busy to network.
Listen/subscribe on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-introduce-yourself-at-networking-the-onle/id1500905335?i=1000605131061
Listen/subscribe on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TIR2WS2LSxrGMvvejCcdY?si=RUgIDZwcRUu8etDPdpAEzw
Our sponsor
The ONLE Networking Show is proud to be sponsored by GetSetSolent. GetSet Solent is a fully funded business support service. The service helps businesses overcome the two biggest barriers to growth: generating profitable customers and accessing finance.
GetSet Solent’s aim is increase the knowledge and skill levels in the region, providing clarity and confidence to help Solent-based businesses achieve their growth potential through 121's and workshops. GetSet Solent is only available to SMEs across the Solent area and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Find out what support you can get by checking out: https://www.getsetforgrowth.com/solent/
Show notes
How to introduce yourself at networking:
The networking introduction, though important is not the be all and end all. Making the time to engage and actively listen to others during the meeting will be far more memorable than a 60 second pitch you spend the whole meeting worrying about. The box on the shelf often gets ignored, ensure you convey what you are offering, who it is for, why it is different and a ball park figure of price - is it £10 or £10k. To avoid bombarding listeners with information and causing them to switch off it is crucial to be clear and concise with your messaging. Networking is a useful tool for getting real time feedback about your presentation of your brand and how to tweak your delivery in the future. If you notice people losing interest, say less not more!
Based on Leah Steele’s ONLE Talks about avoiding burnout, it seemed that there was concern about this medical phenomenon becoming a marker of hard work rather than a problem to be prevented. Making time for both relaxation and adventure seemed to be popular ways to give the brain a break from work yet it can’t be ignored that flow state can be achieved during certain business tasks as well.
ONLE members notes from around the network:
Guy Shahar: “Our culture has made burnout a badge of honour. We have to counter this.'“
Paddy Melville: “Give yourself space to step away from stress. For me it’s the piano - find the thing that you get immersed in.”
Gary Buglass is a volunteer lifeboat operator and he says that working with a team is a great way for him to release stress.
Sam Sharma: “Don’t create inner conflict by contradicting yourself. Be clear on what you want and need AND set boundaries.”
Naomi Light: “One of my standards in checking that I’m doing what I need to maintain my vitality.”
Conclusion: What you say during your networking introduction is not as important as you think. Often people are too wrapped up in what they are going to say, to remember any mistakes or fumbles. There is no shame in reading from a script to build your confidence - often a lack of preparation can be far more damaging!
Give Brian a follow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hilliard/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/424322395346989,