| Why communication
through body language and appropriate language are crucial to
networking success?
I know most people take quick note of someone
that has an attitude. By that we mean that they look belligerent,
like know-it-alls, and their ego hangs out like a sore thumb.
This is not the person you generally want to do business with.
That goes for language as well: you do not want to hang with someone
that is negative, always plays the victim and always is whining
about one thing or another. The fact that body language can work
for you if you take time to listen to others is really important.
The act of listening changes your body language almost immediately.
So that you can understand what the other person
is saying, you change from aggressive mode to passive mode. This
type of body language makes others receptive to you, and they
will want to tell their story to you. However, when others want
to tell their story, it is important that you gently nudge them
in the right direction. You want them to tell you about their
business pain, or what is not right with their company. It is
through analyzing what they are saying that you will gain bigger
insights as to what needs to be remedied, how you can help them
with that part of their business. After all, you are at the event
to pick up solid leads that will give you both profit and relationships
that will last for quite some time.
What about language? The kind of language you
should be using is: "Will you.", "Have you considered.", "I'll
find out how I can help", "I know someone that.", even reiterating
what they just said is good.
You have now practiced and rehearsed, done the
dress rehearsal, filmed yourself, done the critique, worked with
your director (yourself) and you have finally perfected the pitch.
It is now time to try it on a live audience with real people.
The first thing is to make sure that what you are pitching is
appropriate for the audience at the event you have chosen to attend.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with
others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no
one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone
to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's
attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products,
getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the
time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking
Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote
yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself:
Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in
2005. For more information visit http://blueprintbooks.com/
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