by Karen Schatz, Virtually With You

Last week, I did something I didn't think I "needed" to do for my business ... I attended a couple of face-to-face networking events.  I say I didn't think I needed to do this, not because my business doesn't benefit from networking but because I didn't think it needed to be face-to-face.

I'm a Virtual Assistant and, in my business, I've become very accustomed to working virtually.  Many of my clients hire me sight unseen and it's becoming more and more common in our "virtual" world to operate our businesses this way.  That's the beauty of social networking through venues like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and then connecting via email before we make it to the personal phone call connection stage.  This method of networking certainly can be a successful method of networking but I learned that face-to-face networking gives something a little more powerful - the ability to instantly experience a person's personality or temperament.  You know within the first few minutes whether you would like to know this person better or even work with this person.  This is something that is very hard to discern within the first few minutes of chatting online or emailing back and forth. And I think we've all experienced how easy it is to "hide" behind email communication when we're "feeling" out a situation.  Face-to-face networking doesn't allow us to stay in that comfort zone. 

So, that was my resistance to going to a networking event, I was uncomfortable at the thought of walking into a room full of strangers and having to publicly share what I do.  As outgoing and sociable as I am on a personal level, I'm a bit more reserved on a business level.  But this particular event was a Chamber of Commerce holiday open house being hosted by my church.  So, I figured at least I would be on familiar territory (plus I was eager to try something different).

When I first walked in the door, I was greeted by two ladies who introduced themselves I immediately responded enthusiastically to one woman's business of in-home party handbag sales (this is a handbag I have a particular fondness for so it was EASY to connect with her).  After I turned to scan the room, I then noticed two other people that I already knew so it was so easy to strike up conversations with them.  So far, I was feeling pretty comfortable.  After that came the introductions where you have that '30-60 seconds' to present who you are and what you do.  So, even though this was the part I didn't want to do so much, it really did prove beneficial because there were several people who I could identify as prospects.  I also reminded myself that every person in that room is a connection to possible prospects. The other benefit from this event was the opportunity to learn about another networking event that was specifically targeted to women business owners and it was being held the next day so I attended that one too and had even more success in connecting with possible prospects! 

As a result of attending these two events, I learned some very valuable lessons this week, not only did I have an opportunity for people to experience me in a whole different way than they would if we were connecting virtually and I became more visible than I was prior to walking through those doors but I had a lot of fun interacting with people I don't see often or haven't met up until now.

Gary wrote a great article in June 2009 called "Networking & The Art of Connecting" and he shared 3 specific steps in the networking process he likes to call the Triage.   Great article (I highly recommend you read it) and a great reminder that I need to be listening to people more than talking about me in order to leave a lasting impression with them.  So next month, I will have the opportunity two more times to practice Gary's Triage method.

Happy holidays to you and your family and, if you have an opportunity to go to a networking holiday party this month, jump at the invite and start making connections face-to-face!