Get out of the office – go networking!

For some this thought fills them with dread and for some it’s a welcome change of routine.  Either way it is increasingly necessary in today’s legal world so here’s a few tips to help.

This month – Ten networking tips

1. If you are worried about walking into a roomful of people arrive early, that way you will be the one waiting for others to arrive.
2. New to an event?  Speak to the organisers, they are there to aid connections and can often introduce you to people you might like to meet.
3. Have some questions ready to ask, ‘Who is your ideal client?’, ‘How do you see your business developing?’
4. Be ready to listen!  If you are talking too much you will not gain an understanding of any other businesses/ people there, you will just be a walking sales pitch!
5. Have set responses ready to obvious questions but don’t read them like a script. ‘What do you do’ should not be answered with ‘I’m a solicitor (full stop)’ but with ‘I help people or businesses do/ achieve/ X’.  My response is ‘I help legal professionals move their careers forward’.
6. Dress appropriately for the gathering, and remember it will be hotter than you think!
7. Speak up as often events are busy and noisy
8. Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself personally
9. Follow up each event by contacting those people with whom you exchanged business cards. Either connect on LinkedIn or send a follow up email so you remain in their mind.
10. Remember everyone there is just a person like you looking to get out of the office, looking to develop their business and looking to talk!

Thanks for reading and if you feel you need more help developing your networking skills then do get in touch.

If you see me at a networking event then please do introduce yourself, I am always happy to talk!