Planning For Virtual Networking Events

Building a relationship > Blindly networking Quality is always better than quantity while networking. And how do you focus on quality? ✨ - Carefully pick the people you reach out to. - When they add you to your network, follow up with them. - Introduce yourself. Share how they can add value to your career. - Be very specific on what topic you need help on. - When you ask, think of the things you can give to them. - If you’re scheduling a call, set a clear agenda for the call. - After the call, make sure you send a thank you message. - Follow up every 3-6 months with updates. And, do you know how you can stand out? Give before you ask! 💡 When I was meeting a Senior PM who also happened to be content creator, I offered to design her LinkedIn banner. She did not expect this and I bet she still remembers me. 💡 One of the Group PMs I was meeting was starting out with content on Youtube so when we met we talked about product management but when he asked about content creation - I shared my content creation experience with him. Most of the times we think we won’t be able to add value to someone senior to us. But all of us have unique capabilities that can add value to others. So focus on adding 10 people to you network who will vouch for you uncountable times instead of 100 people who will not add any value. Hope this helps! In the next post, let’s talk about things to do on a networking call. #career #students #networking #linkedin

Here’s a secret to help you supercharge your networking. Stop trying to hit home runs with every touch point. Instead, focus on small wins that move the conversation forward. I see so many people making big / vague asks up front: “Can you hop on a 30 minute call?” “Tell me how you accomplished [Big Thing].” These people are super busy and they’re receiving this email from you - a total stranger. The last thing they want is another item on their to do list. Instead, start with a small, simple ask that they can reply to in <30 seconds. Here’s a formula that's been really effective for me: “Hey [Name], your experience in [Industry] is really impressive. I know you're busy, but I just had to ask: If you had to start over and work your way back to [Insert Achievement], would you do A or B? A: [Insert Actionable Thing] B: [Insert Other Actionable Thing]” This formula makes is incredibly easy for them to say "I'd do A" or "I'd do B." Now the door is open! Go do thing A or thing B, get results, and report back. Let this person know you took their advice and then ask for more. This positions you as someone who values their advice and has an action bias -- someone worth investing in. That's going to lead to deeper conversations and stronger relationships!

✨ What’s the best way to have a meaningful conversation with a bunch of strangers? The first two Spark No. 9 salons invited people from vastly different arenas to come together for an evening of conversation. We weren’t sure it would work. Would people really show up just to talk? The answer: a strong yes. Here’s what we learned in our first two experiments that we will take forward to future salons: → Cast the net wide. Our first salon, An Audience of One, was ostensibly about how technology has pushed us toward narrower and narrower targeting. But while our room had a fair number of digital marketers and audience specialists, it also included people in theatrical production, founders, filmmakers, angel investors, technologists, and storytellers. The conversations in each group were wide-ranging, and I think people were surprised at what they had in common across industries and disciplines. → Curate. Each conversation group was carefully constructed from the list of confirmed attendees. Each group had something in common—maybe everyone worked for a large organization—but we also thought like matchmakers. Who might be able to help each other? Who did we think would have a crazy-good chat? → Create structure. Each conversation group had a different question to discuss and a coordinator who provided gentle facilitation. Giving people a topic totally circumvented the awkward small talk that happens at networking events. In fact, in my group, people didn’t even introduce themselves! They just started talking about the topic and over time revealed relevant info about themselves. Of course, we had a hiccup or two. For example, somehow our no-shows all came from one or two conversation groups, which made for a scramble as we tried to resize. We’ll be better at that next time. In any case, our guests were so gracious that they just rolled with it. It’s funny—most of us spend every day as practitioners. We’re targeting audiences or innovating (the topic of our second salon), but we rarely zoom out and think about the culture that we operate in or the challenges that we share. It turns out that a salon is a great way to create a space for broader conversations and to build real connections among people from diverse fields.

Ever notice how some leaders seem to have a sixth sense for meeting dynamics while others plow through their agenda oblivious to glazed eyes, side conversations, or everyone needing several "bio breaks" over the course of an hour? Research tells us executives consider 67% of virtual meetings failures, and a staggering 92% of employees admit to multitasking during meetings. After facilitating hundreds of in-person, virtual, and hybrid sessions, I've developed my "6 E's Framework" to transform the abstract concept of "reading the room" into concrete skills anyone can master. (This is exactly what I teach leaders and teams who want to dramatically improve their meeting and presentation effectiveness.) Here's what to look for and what to do: 1. Eye Contact: Notice where people are looking (or not looking). Are they making eye contact with you or staring at their devices? Position yourself strategically, be inclusive with your gaze, and respectfully acknowledge what you observe: "I notice several people checking watches, so I'll pick up the pace." 2. Energy: Feel the vibe - is it friendly, tense, distracted? Conduct quick energy check-ins ("On a scale of 1-10, what's your energy right now?"), pivot to more engaging topics when needed, and don't hesitate to amplify your own energy through voice modulation and expressive gestures. 3. Expectations: Regularly check if you're delivering what people expected. Start with clear objectives, check in throughout ("Am I addressing what you hoped we'd cover?"), and make progress visible by acknowledging completed agenda items. 4. Extraneous Activities: What are people doing besides paying attention? Get curious about side conversations without defensiveness: "I see some of you discussing something - I'd love to address those thoughts." Break up presentations with interactive elements like polls or small group discussions. 5. Explicit Feedback: Listen when someone directly tells you "we're confused" or "this is exactly what we needed." Remember, one vocal participant often represents others' unspoken feelings. Thank people for honest feedback and actively solicit input from quieter participants. 6. Engagement: Monitor who's participating and how. Create varied opportunities for people to engage with you, the content, and each other. Proactively invite (but don't force) participation from those less likely to speak up. I've shared my complete framework in the article in the comments below. In my coaching and workshops with executives and teams worldwide, I've seen these skills transform even the most dysfunctional meeting cultures -- and I'd be thrilled to help your company's speakers and meeting leaders, too. What meeting dynamics challenge do you find most difficult to navigate? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments! #presentationskills #virualmeetings #engagement

If you struggle to keep conversations going during networking, this tip will increase your response rate. Talk about people’s passions. Why? After getting more than 17,000 followers and networking with hundreds of job searchers, I can confidently say that: People love talking about what excites them. It’s an easy way to build rapport. Here’s how I’ve helped 50+ data professionals leverage this strategy to increase response rates and build meaningful relationships: 1️⃣ Do some research. Look at their LinkedIn or portfolio. Find something impressive. 2️⃣ Start with flattery and curiosity. Example: “Hey [Name], I noticed you [accomplishment/project]. That’s incredible! What’s the part you enjoy most about it?” 3️⃣ Follow their passion. Ask questions to show genuine interest. Let the conversation flow naturally. 4️⃣ Find common ground. When they mention something you relate to, dig deeper. Build the connection. 5️⃣ Tie it back to your goal. Shift the conversation to their role or company. Example: “Oh, does your team work on X?” “How does your company approach Y?” For instance, let’s say their passion is travel. You: “That’s awesome! Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?” Them: “I loved Thailand!” You: “That’s on my list! Did you manage to work remotely while there?” From there, the conversation naturally moves toward their job. Pro Tip: Not everyone will engage, and that’s okay. You don't have to be "perfect" to start networking. Yes, you will still get rejected, that’s part of the game. But you'll get better after multiple iterations. Focus on connecting with the right people. Try this next time you’re stuck in a conversation and let me know how it went.

Most people tell you to network, but they don’t teach you how. Here’s what you can do: 🔹 Quality Over Quantity: Before attending, study the event's attendee list and identify 2-3 people you want to meet. This focused approach can lead to deeper, more meaningful conversations. I’ve recently done this myself at a TED event. 🔹 Adopt a Giving Mindset: Offer to share your expertise or resources. For example, if someone is working on a project you have experience with, volunteer to provide insights or introduce them to someone who can help. This shows you're invested in their success. 🔹 Research Smartly: Look into their recent projects or publications. If your contact has recently published a paper or given a talk, read it and mention specific points you found intriguing or valuable. This demonstrates genuine interest and sets you apart. 🔹 Make the First Move: Send a message acknowledging a challenge they mentioned in a public forum or LinkedIn comment. For example: "Hi [Name], I saw your post about the challenges of remote team management. I've faced similar issues and found that regular virtual coffee breaks helped. Would love to share more if you're interested. Best, [Your Name]" 🔹 Build a Habit: Set a weekly reminder to engage with your network on social media. This could be liking, commenting on, or sharing posts from your contacts. Regular engagement keeps you top of mind and builds a foundation for deeper connections. Tomorrow’s newsletter is packed with actionable insights to turn casual contacts into valuable connections. ➡ Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eE-aFmFy 💜 Career Well-being is the best work-life newsletter, according to my readers! Join us! #NetworkingTips #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #careerbutterfly #CareerWellbeing

I’ve been thinking a lot about the 90 minute virtual meeting paradox. We spend the first 30 minutes on welcoming everyone and introductions, the next 15 on framing, and then a few people share thoughts. Then, just when the conversation gets meaningful, the host abruptly announces "We're out of time!” and throws a few rushed closing thoughts and announcements together. Sound familiar? We crave deep, meaningful, trust-based exchanges in virtual meeting environments that feel both tiring and rushed. It seems like as soon as momentum builds and insights emerge, it’s time to wrap up. Share-outs become a regurgitation of top-level ideas—usually focused on the most soundbite-ready insights and omitting those seeds of ideas that didn’t have time to be explored further. And sometimes, we even cite these meetings as examples of participation in a process, even when that participation is only surface level to check the participation box.  After facilitating and attending hundreds (thousands?) of virtual meetings, I've found four practices that create space for more engagement and depth: 1. Send a thoughtful and focused pre-work prompt at least a few days ahead of time that invites reflection before gathering. When participants arrive having already engaged with the core question(s), it’s much easier to jump right into conversation. Consider who designs these prompts and whose perspectives they center. 2. Replace round-robin introductions with a focused check-in question that directly connects to the meeting's purpose. "What's one tension you're navigating in this work?" for example yields more insight than sharing organizational affiliations. Be mindful of who speaks first and how difference cultural communication styles may influence participation.  3. Structure the agenda with intentionally expanding time blocks—start tight (and facilitate accordingly), and then create more spaciousness as the meeting progresses. This honors the natural rhythm of how trust and dialogue develop, and allows for varying approaches to processing and sharing.  4. Prioritize accessibility and inclusion in every aspect of the meeting. Anticipating and designing for participants needs means you’re thinking about language justice, technology and materials accessibility, neurodivergence, power dynamics, and content framing. Asking “What do you need to fully participate in this meeting?” ahead of time invites participants to share their needs. These meeting suggestions aren’t just about efficiency—they’re about creating spaces where authentic relationships and useful conversations can actually develop. Especially at times when people are exhausted and working hard to manage their own energy, a well-designed meeting can be a welcome space to engage. I’m curious to hear from others: What's your most effective strategy for holding substantive meetings in time-constrained virtual spaces? What meeting structures have you seen that actually work?

At one event, the emcee wrapped the opening session by saying, “You’ve got 45 minutes to network — go!” No prompts. No structure. No plan. The result? A few people started working the room — business cards in hand. Nearly half stayed in conversations with people they already knew. The rest stood awkwardly scanning the room, hoping someone would approach… then excused themselves to “use the bathroom” and slipped outside. That was the day I promised myself I’d never let “networking” be a free-for-all. If it matters to your event, it has to be designed. Here’s how to make networking actually work: * Provide conversation starters and guided activities. * Create more intimate spaces designed for connection. * Recruit and empower super connectors to make introductions with ease. Networking without design isn’t networking — it’s chance. What’s one creative way you’ve seen an event make networking easier?

Everyone says IRL events are better. But after hosting 450+ virtual events, here’s what I’ve learned: Most people try to make virtual events feel like they could’ve been in-person. But the secret? Build virtual events that fully lean into what virtual does better. For example, one thing virtual events nail is…everyone can talk at the same time. 🗣️ Imagine 50 of us are in a beautiful, magical space in-person, discussing how we hope to grow in the next 6 months. There are plants hanging down the walls 🌿, freshly squeezed juices in hand 🍹, and the sound of a gorgeous fountain filling the room. Now imagine the logistics: it’d take forever to hear from everyone. But on Zoom? Within seconds, everyone can share their thoughts at once in the chat. 💬 This “chat waterfall” lets me instantly tap into 50 brilliant minds and adjust the event in real time to what folks are questioning or thinking about. It’s incredibly powerful—and something in-person gatherings just can’t replicate. Yes, in-person events have their magic, but when it comes to virtual, I always ask: What can this do better than in person? Then, I dial that up to the extreme. 🎉 PS: If you’re someone who disables chat during a virtual event, I’d love to hear why. 🤔 If it’s about keeping important info from getting lost, maybe that info doesn’t belong in the chat. Think slides, emails, or follow-ups. 📧 And if it’s about focus, maybe the real fix is designing an event worth focusing on. 😉

Designing a conference? Please rethink the traditional format where attendees passively sit through hours of expert panels and fireside chats. There is a better way and it doesn't take much effort or thought. A few things you might consider: + Every 30-60 minutes, pause to encourage attendees to introduce themselves to someone new and discuss a key takeaway from the latest session. + Place Q&A cards on tables for participants to submit questions throughout the session. Invite those who submit questions to share their context, creating a richer dialogue. + Don't just celebrate the sponsors — celebrate the people in the room. Study the list of attendees and find interesting facts about who's joining. Highlight the range of backgrounds, demographics, etc. + During breaks, set up zones for different affinity groups, helping people connect with others who share their interests and expertise. You'll probably think of even better things. But you get the picture. It's nice to hear how a few experts are thinking about current issues — but it's transformative if you can foster connections that go far beyond your event. #learning #development #workplace #growth