Whether you\u2019re attending a networking event to connect with potential customers or you\u2019re going simply to connect with other local professionals, talking to the right people is essential to making good connections and making the event a success. Here are five people you are almost sure to meet at your next networking event, along with our tips on talking more effectively to them. And if you find yourself relating to one of these people, consider how you could improve on your networking skills\u2014after all, every event is a chance to become a more effective networker!<\/p>\n
The Chatterbox Think you might be a Chatterbox? Make sure you\u2019re listening to the other person as much as you are talking. When you give them time to talk, you\u2019re also giving them plenty of time to exit the conversation so that both of you can move on to new conversations.<\/p>\n The Wallflower The Tagalong The Complainer The Me-First Have you met these people at networking events you\u2019ve attended? How do you make sure your networking event is a success? We\u2019d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Whether you\u2019re attending a networking event to connect with potential customers or you\u2019re going simply to connect with other local professionals, talking to the right people is essential to making good connections and making the event a success. Here are five people you are almost sure to meet at your next networking event, along with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-marketing","category-news","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12394"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12395,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12394\/revisions\/12395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong>Some people like to talk, and that can be great! However, when you\u2019re up against a Chatterbox you might find yourself stuck in a conversation when you want to move on to another event attendee. If you notice this happening, try to stop any new lines of conversation before they really get going. You might even consider bringing the chatterbox along with you so that you can both meet a new person.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>This is the sort of person who might not be comfortable in the networking setting, and whether they are shy or simply unsure of who to approach the Wallflower is a figure at almost every event. However, taking a moment to talk to them could give you the chance to make a valuable connection. Just make sure you\u2019re paying attention to their responses and be ready to end the conversation if it\u2019s not working out for either of you.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>One of the best things about networking events is that they are a chance to meet people, but the Tagalong isn\u2019t meeting those people themselves. Instead, they\u2019re following you and meeting all the people you\u2019re meeting. This might make the event easier for them, but it can limit your conversational opportunities. If they\u2019re becoming a challenge, take a moment to be frank; tell them that you want to connect with others, and advise that they do the same.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Whether they\u2019re complaining about work or about some people in particular, it can be tempting to join the Complainer in venting frustration. However, that negativity could make it hard to make your networking event a positive experience\u2014and if other attendees overhear they might not want to spend time with you. When you notice the conversation taking a negative turn, it\u2019s usually a good idea to steer it toward more positive subjects or to politely excuse yourself. After all, someone who prioritizes badmouthing people at an event is probably a connection that won\u2019t benefit you in the long run.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>We\u2019ve all met someone who took every opportunity to make things about themselves and to talk about their wins, and the Me-First is that person. While you\u2019re at this event to network and learn more about the people there, remember that this has to be a two-way street and you don\u2019t have to spend your evening catering to the Me-First\u2019s ego. If you\u2019re having a hard time getting a word in edgewise, it\u2019s okay to walk away.<\/p>\n