How to Keep Conversations Going at Networking Events

"You are so interesting to talk to!" My networking partner said this after our coffee chat last week. Plot twist: I barely talked about myself. For 45 minutes, I asked about her career transition. Her challenges with remote team management. What she was learning about AI implementation. I listened. Asked follow-up questions. Showed genuine curiosity about her experience. She did 80% of the talking. Yet somehow, I was the "interesting" one. This reminded me of something negotiation expert Chris Voss teaches: interested people are interesting!!! It sounds backwards, but it works. The best networking conversations I have had? I spent most of them learning about the other person's journey, not pitching my own. The strongest professional relationships I have built? They started with me asking "What's the most challenging part of your role right now?" instead of leading with my resume. Here's what I have learned about building real connections: Stop trying to be impressive. Start being impressed by others. Ask questions that matter to them. Listen like their answer will teach you something new. Because it probably will. The fastest way to become memorable is to make others feel heard. What's the best question you have been asked in a networking conversation? What made it so good?

Networking can feel as awkward as a first date. You’re meeting someone new, trying to make a good impression, and hoping they’ll want to stay in touch (or at least remember your name). Uncomfortable? Sometimes. But it’s also an opportunity to build a meaningful connection. I know this firsthand. Ten years ago, I went on a lot of first dates. What set my now-husband apart? He asked great questions, listened attentively, shared openly, and didn’t dominate the conversation. Turns out, those same strategies work well in networking. Here’s how to apply them: 𝟭. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻) Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions like: “What excites you most about what you’re working on right now?” “How did you get started in your field?” “What’s a challenge you’re tackling that you’re passionate about?” Then, really listen. Engage. Ask follow-up questions. People remember how you make them feel–and feeling heard builds real connection. 𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗧𝘄𝗼-𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 A bad date? Someone who talks only about themselves. A bad networking conversation? Same. Share your own stories, insights, experiences and interests. Find common ground, build rapport. On our first date, I asked my husband where he wanted to travel next. He said, “the Amalfi Coast.” As fate would have it, I was slated to host a University of Michigan Alumni trip there later that spring. That sparked a deeper conversation about the kind of experiences we value. 𝟯. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 A great date–and a great networking conversation–ends with both people wanting to stay in touch. Offer something meaningful—an interesting article, a relevant connection, or a thoughtful follow-up message referencing something specific you discussed. My husband ended the first date with, “I like you. When can I see you again?” I wasn’t sure if he was a rookie who didn’t know how to play it cool or refreshingly confident. Turns out, it was the latter. 𝟰. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝗽  Send a quick LinkedIn message or email within 48 hours. Reference something specific from your conversation to show you were paying attention: “It was great meeting you at the event! I loved our conversation about (specific topic). Would love to stay in touch and hear how it progresses!” My husband followed up our first date with a note—and a photo of the wine I ordered that night, sitting in his grocery cart next to some celery. (Yes, really. See the photo below.) 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴) 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 It’s not about racking up LinkedIn connections—it’s about cultivating relationships. Which brings me to the second photo. My husband’s approach to dating eventually led to an invitation to the Amalfi Coast trip. Just not on the first date, like he likes to tell it. What’s your best networking tip or funniest dating story?

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.

I created a simple system to never talk about weather at networking events again: 🌤 ... ⛈️ ... 🌩 I used to default to weather talk at every networking event. Now I have meaningful conversations that lead to real connections. Steal my exact process: Step 1: Identify your favorite conversation topics • Pick 3-4 topics you genuinely enjoy discussing • For me: travel, food, solo biz, personal development • These become your conversation targets Step 2: Plan responses for common small talk questions • Create answers that lead to your preferred topics • Include specific details that invite follow-up questions • Always end with a question to keep conversation flowing Step 3: Practice your responses • Rehearse until they feel natural, not scripted • Adjust based on what gets the best responses • Keep refining until conversations flow easily Real examples from my networking playbook: 👋 When asked "How's business?": "I'm learning to distinguish productive busy from just busy in my solo business. Everyday is a new adventure. What about you - working on anything exciting lately?” 👋 When asked "How are you?": "Energized from traveling to this event! I love connecting face-to-face with coaches after working 20 years in corporate IT. Very different vibe! What about you, what are you working on lately? 👋 When asked "Where are you from?": "St. Louis for over 20 years now. The affordable cost of living helped me launch my solo business last year. How about you?” 👋 When asked "What do you do?": "Former IT project manager who discovered CliftonStrengths and pivoted to become a ghostwriter for coaches. It’s a wild ride! What exciting things are you working on?” TL;DR: • Identify topics you enjoy discussing • Prepare engaging responses to common questions • Practice until your responses feel natural Ten minutes of prep can transforms networking from awkward weather chat to deeper connections. Not a bad way to increase your surface area of luck (to quote my friend Pamela Wilton) ❓What's your go-to response to "So, what do you do?" Share in the comments below! ♻️ Share or repost if you find this helpful! ~ ~ ~ 😀 Hi, I’m Angeline. Content partner for coaches and certified CliftonStrengths Coach 💡 Helping CliftonStrengths® coaches turn workshop attendees into paying clients with automated follow-up emails Top 5: Relator | Arranger | Input | Learner | Responsibility #CliftonStrengths #Coaching #PersonalDevelopment #Ghostwriter #emailseries #leadgen #RecoveringOverthinker

It’s fall, and you know what that means: It’s networking season! Many people shy away from networking events because they can be uncomfortable. I understand that - it's normal to feel out of place when you don’t know anyone. But what if you had a strategy to turn every event into a meaningful opportunity? Let me share two simple but effective strategies I use to feel more comfortable and maximize my time at large gatherings: My first tip? Always have a question ready. When you’re at a networking event, people will react positively when you approach them. Everyone’s there to network, right? You can go up to someone and ask something easy like, “What are you most excited about right now?” or “Tell me about you.” These questions open the door to deeper conversations that  take you beyond small talk. When they answer you can pick out something to hook onto to bring the conversation to a deeper level. . The second tip? Have a follow-up plan. As you talk, think about ways you can contribute to the person’s life—a relevant article, podcast, or even a LinkedIn connection. By offering something valuable, you create a natural follow-up that helps maintain the relationship. These strategies help you get value from the event. Networking isn’t just about adding more contacts—it’s about building connections that matter. It’s the difference between feeling like you’re just passing out business cards and walking away with relationships that last. Networking events may be contrived, but with practice they can help you achieve your goals. What’s your go-to strategy for making meaningful connections at networking events? #networking  #strategy  #communication