Comments on: 5 Ways to Kill a Connection

By: Networking with Introverts — Fail Spectacularly! (SM)

Networking with Introverts — Fail Spectacularly! (SM) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:17:01 +0000

[...] week, this comment got posted to my blog, in which Karmela asked, How should one approach another during a networking [...]

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:01:15 +0000

@Karmela—You may appreciate this video about networking for introverts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2cbJAo0jhQ It includes several practical tips and even book recommendations.

How to approach someone else who’s reserved? Interesting question. I think I’ll do a video post just on that. Watch for it next Wednesday.

In terms of online vs. offline, same principles, different manifestation.

By: Karmela

Karmela — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:52:01 +0000

How should one approach another during a networking event especially if that person is reserved. What tips does anyone have in networking? Is there a difference between networkng online or in person?

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:58:20 +0000

@Dawn—In case someone missed it from your comment: “You will not land a job after one networking session.” Marketers will tell you: it takes 7 touches before you can move someone from awareness to action.

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:54:05 +0000

@HRMinion—I’m probably being a little harsh on “How can I help?” It’s certainly far from the worst thing you can say! The idea is to take the concept and execute it in a way that makes it as easy as possible for others. It’s really an issue of maximizing the impact, as opposed to changing the approach.

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:52:08 +0000

@Patrick—great tip… to take it one step further: ask a question about the news that goes beyond the obvious. e.g., rather than say, “can you believe what’s happening in the gulf?!” say, “I wonder, if I lived there as a fisherman, if I’d have the courage to make a fresh start.” Those next level observations make for far richer conversations!

By: Jason Seiden

Jason Seiden — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:50:33 +0000

@Thomas—Failing without trying is definitely NOT spectacular!

By: Tweets that mention 5 Ways to Kill a Connection — Fail Spectacularly! (SM) -- Topsy.com

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:08:02 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WorkForce One , Dawn Hrdlica. Dawn Hrdlica said: 5 ways to kill a connection….loving this post @Seiden http://bit.ly/9YLEVw [...]

By: Dawn Hrdlica- Burke @dawnHRrocks

Dawn Hrdlica- Burke @dawnHRrocks — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:51:32 +0000

Love this post! Live networking takes on the same rules as social networking. Be authentic, strive for true conversation, be real, be yourself. Funny how people are spending so much time in the online world trying to be authentic and failing to do it in the live world. That will take you much further with me in a networking senario than creepy guy or self-inflated guy.

here is the real deal…..you will not land a job after one networking session. That bears repeating…you will NOT land a job after one networking session. No matter how good your conversation is. What you will do is become “top of mind” with the person you are speaking with. The networking is the catalyst or portal to giving you a fighting chance for further interviews.

By: HR Minion

HR Minion — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:04:40 +0000

I get the “How can I help?” a lot and it does put you on the spot. But then again, I find myself saying it too. People mean well when they say it but I do agree, asking about someone’s plans and offering suggestions would be more meaningful.

By: Patrick Erwin

Patrick Erwin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:19:22 +0000

Great ideas, Jason.

Re #3 on your solutions list: One simple solution there is to read/watch the news (a newspaper, or its electronic equivalent) every day, to get a sense of important current events and pop culture. (Google News works for this.)

One of my friends is in academia and deals with a large cross-section of people every day. He’s also often in front of a room full of people (not to mention apathetic students). His trick is, as he says, to have “three minutes of conversation on any subject.”

It makes for a pretty organic, low-key “in” to jump into a conversation (to make a comment or ask a question).