Networking: Bad hair day, late night, or do you never show personality?
I’d like to thank Angie, of AngieandCo, for this guest blog. I met her networking, know her as an excellent graphic designer. I was recently talking to her about networking and the result is below.
We have to put on a mask for one reason or another, maybe for self protection or just a slightly later than sensible night out (I remember a few of those over the festive period that I’d like to forget).
So if we put ourselves in that situation and wear a different persona than usual are we also projecting a false demeanour?
Are you guilty of bad networking, or being hypocritical?
Therefore are we guilty of exactly what we are quick to criticise when faced with a networker or colleague who seems not quite as straight forward as they portray. Can we also be accused of ‘following the crowd’ and basing our opinions on other peoples views or gossip?
May be they are not quite what they seem for some reason or may be they are just having a ‘bad’ day!
I can think of people that I’ve met who, on first impression, I thought I wouldn’t like. On another meeting, they surprised me and suddenly we were getting to know each other. Who was to blame for that, me, or them?
Meet, like, know, trust
The ethos of most successful networking meetings is built on MEET LIKE KNOW TRUST so a masked personality can undermine and delay the process.
First impressions are extremely important but may be we can be a bit quick to judge. How often have you said after getting to know someone that you were actually wrong about them and your opinion had changed because of something they did or said?
So being a little more open minded and less judgemental could make a considerable difference in the initial ‘MEET’, so leading on to the ‘LIKE’ process….
Take the time to form opinions and make sure they are your opinions not biased by others.
What can you do?
Remember to take off your mask and you may be able to more clearly! You might find that is your networking notworking, has some ideas to help put this into place
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