Making the Most of Networking Breaks

Networking can feel like a daunting task, especially for us introverts (yes, I’m an introvert #iykyk). Walking into a crowded conference room can sometimes feel more overwhelming than energizing, right? Over the years, I've developed a simple yet powerful framework that helps me navigate these situations with intention and actually get the results I'm looking for. I call it the 3-2-1 Networking Framework. Here's how it works: 🎯 3 Strong Contacts: Instead of aiming to collect a stack of business cards you'll never follow up with, go into your event with the goal of making 3 meaningful connections that can genuinely help you achieve a specific goal. This focus allows you to be more present in conversations and truly remember who you've met. Quality over quantity, always! 🗣️ 2 Small Details: Beyond the business talk, make a conscious effort to remember at least 2 seemingly small, personal details about the people you connect with. Did they mention their child's name? Are they excited about an upcoming vacation? Did you both realize you're part of the same sorority? These personal touches create a stronger, more memorable connection. 💡 Pro-tip: Start with the name! This past week at IIEX, I had a few instances where people mistook me for another researcher. While she's fantastic, it highlighted the importance of truly seeing individuals past basic shared demographics. 📣 Another pro-tip (especially when connecting with Black women): Please remember something other than our hair. Our styles are diverse and can change frequently - at least mine does 🤣. Focusing solely on a hairstyle can lead to missed connections – let's move beyond superficial identifiers and get to the heart of the people. 🚀 1 Must-Do Goal: Walk into your networking event with at least 1 clear, actionable goal. Is it to identify potential business partners, find a new vendor, learn about a specific industry trend, or even land one new client? Having this singular focus will direct your conversations and make your time much more effective. You don't need a laundry list of objectives; sometimes, all it takes is one spark to ignite something bigger and better. This 3-2-1 framework has been a game-changer for me, allowing me to turn up the energy when needed, stay focused, and build authentic connections that truly matter. Give it a try at your next event and let me know how it works for you! #networking #introvert #connections #businesstips #IIEX

Just back from CES Las Vegas! I had the privilege of leading several innovative companies to unlock real, tangible value at one of the world’s largest tech events. While CES can feel overwhelming with its scale and the infamous “FOMO” energy, there’s one truth I’ve learned: less is more. Here are some key lessons from CES for those looking to maximize their impact and build meaningful relationships: 1️⃣ Quality over quantity: Instead of chasing every meeting or shaking countless hands, focus on curated, private interactions. Whether it’s a quick demo in a quiet room, a planned sit-down in your hotel lobby, or a reserved space at the venue—give serious companies the space to talk real business. 2️⃣ Leverage your CRM immediately: Don’t just collect business cards or scribble notes in a notebook. After each meeting, input contacts into your CRM with detailed follow-ups in mind. That follow-up is where relationships are made or broken. 3️⃣ Be intentional from the start: Building a relationship smartly means understanding your counterpart’s needs, goals, and challenges. You don’t need to connect with everyone at CES—just the right ones. The result? Meaningful connections, productive conversations, and actual business outcomes. What are your best tips for making the most of mega-events like CES? Let’s exchange ideas! #CES2025 #BizDev #BuildingRelationships

Forget the free food and swag. The real conference ROI? Stronger relationships. Here's how you do it: Was advising a founder headed to her first conference as an entrepreneur rather than just for fun / to hang out. These events can be intimidating and expensive so you want to make the most of your time and energy. Here's a recap of what we discussed: ◾ Know your goal. You are there to advance your business through relationships and new insights / information. Manage your energy, get enough sleep, don't eat too much of the free food if its junk. ◾ Chat everyone up. Your job is to build relationships with new friends and potential collaborators / customers. If you see people you know, great but don't spend all your time with them—use them to meet other folks "Can I join your group at lunch?" ◾ Small talk matters. Start w/ simple questions like "Is this your first time at XYZ Con?" "When did you get in / where did you come in from?" "What are you most hoping to get out of this event?" And be prepared to answer all those q's for yourself! ◾ Be choosy about the talks. Pick a few of the events you really think will be worth your time and ask a public question during the Q&A. It can make an impression for the speakers and also the audience (people will remember you and maybe start up a convo with you later) ◾ Be ready to connect. Have a QR code or link ready to your company / socials / mailing list. You'll completely forget to do this later and seconds matter b/c people get distracted / bored. ◾ Follow up with people. Do it right away so you don't forget who they were—email or social media DM. Remind them of how you met and share a memory or insight or piece of media that can help cement your relationship. Try to set up a call or at least be friendly on social in the DMs or in comments. ◾ All you need is a few good ones. It can feel overwhelming but if you can walk away from a conference with even just 2 strong relationships (which might happen slowly over time) for a conference to be a great investment. These days I don't attend as many conferences unless I'm speaking but early in my career these events helped me connect and deepen relationships with a lot of amazing people. What are your favorite tips when it comes to a conference?

Many people think great networkers are extroverts. (They couldn’t be more wrong) Great networking favors the prepared. Sounds similar to luck, doesn’t it? Last Thursday I coached a seller for a networking event he was going to this week. Here are 3 strategies I shared: 1. Pull the Thread: Birds of a feather flock together. Prep and research at least 5 or more new people that you want to meet. Ask the following question at the end of every conversation. ↳ Who is the coolest person you’ve met at this event so far or who else do you recommend I have to meet? 2. Novelty NameDrop: Believe it or not, most people with an iPhone still don’t know what NameDrop is. Tell the other person you are going to forward them your contact card and ask them to pull out their phone. ↳ If they have an iPhone hold the top ends together and they should automatically exchange contact info. They will remember you for teaching them something new. Even if they have used it, it’s so rare that it’s cool every time. Don’t forget to add a note to their contact card reminding you where you met them! 3. LinkedIn Tracking: In front of them, connect on LinkedIn with a message stating it was great to meet them at the event. At the end of the evening, you can go back to th your sent invitations and recent connections to quickly track your follow-ups. ↳ MAKE SURE TO SEND A MESSAGE. LinkedIn doesn’t delete the history so it’s an easy way for them to remember you if you message them in the future. Just like cold calling, sellers can feel overwhelmed or scared when going to networking events. But once you get into it, and get past the first conversation, you get on a roll. Don't let anything stop you because building a solid network has the greatest returns!

I was paid to go to 100 events a year at a past job - I learned how to be ruthlessly effective at networking in-person 12 uncommon tips you can use for more efficient networking at a conference: 1) don’t eat heavy! It will slow you down 2) Don’t be afraid to leave a conversation, even if it feels a tad abrupt, protect your time and stay focused. We're all attendees, we understand. 3) Drink lots of water and bring gum or mints. 4) Ask “what brings you here?” as an alternative to the overplayed question “what do you do” 5) Happy hours involved? Bring an after alcohol aid like Cheers - you need to be at your freshest every morning of the event 6) Everyone says they're bad at remembering names, but a small trick is to repeat someone’s full name when you meet them so you’re more likely to remember it later and people like hearing their name. 7) Use the LinkedIn app on your phone to quickly scan and immediately connect with someone to follow up later 8) take lots of pictures with people, it creates a memory and a positive surface to reconnect later online after the event (I need to get better at this) 9) don’t be silent - if you’re not naturally talkative or “loud” this one is for you: you need to force yourself to speak, even if that means raising your voice in a crowded room, or walking across the room to introduce yourself, it's the only way people will get to know you, a big reason why you're at the event. Break the ice, 95% of people will be thankful you did. 10) know your micro elevator pitch - what’s the 1 sentence version of what you do that is interesting and will “stick” with someone? It takes practice and experimentation to fine tune, especially if you work at a “boring” company but hey, mix it up and you’ll find it. DM me if you want to hear my example for me new company. 11) have fun! Don’t get too self-conscious or take anything too seriously, no one really cares about a pimple or a stain. People remember your energy, not your appearance. 12) controversial one - don’t bring a friend. They might help you avoid some awkwardness but you’ll end up spending 50% of your time talking to them, instead of meeting and talking with new people Agree/disagree with any? What would you add? #inbound24

It's networking week and I haven't talked about networking events yet! Heyo! Let's do this. Yes, I know networking events can be draining and a lot to deal with, but they can be manageable. Here’s the first trick: Realize 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼. No one cares about you -- they’re all up in their heads about how they look and what they say. Now here's some tips: 1) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 What organization is hosting the event? Who is the contact person? Sometimes the event will publish a list of confirmed attendees - look them up in advance. If there is a speaker, contact them too and say you’re looking forward to the event. And look at that! You have made connections before you even walked in the door. 2) 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 My favorite opening question is, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?” Everyone has a reason for attending the event, and this will help you find something in common with the other person. They will likely ask you the same question, so practice your answer ahead of time. 3) 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵” Speaking of introductions, practice how you will introduce yourself to a new person. Consider your goals - what do you want people to remember about you? For example, if you’re looking for a new job, your pitch will include the types of jobs/industries that interest you. 4) 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱 I wrote about this yesterday. You can attach digital business cards to your email signature block, text the cards to a contact, and generate a QR code. LinkedIn is a great option too - 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗤𝗥 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲. Here's how: 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗹𝗻𝗸𝗱.𝗶𝗻/𝗲𝗞𝗫𝟮𝗘𝟵𝗝𝗖. 5) 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 Don’t dress in boring black like everyone else. Wear something noteworthy so you stand out from the crowd and people will remember you. You could choose a colorful jacket, tie, scarf, jewelry, brooch, or glasses. Later, when you’re following up with people, you can say, “I was wearing the red jacket." 6) 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 Find the person who organized the event and thank them before you leave. If they seem too busy or overwhelmed, send a message after the event is over. First of all, this is a nice thing to do because they put a lot of effort into organizing the event. Secondly, no one does this and it helps you stand out. Finally, the event organizer knows most of the people who attended and can be a great addition to your network. I'm rooting for you. 👊 ♻ Please repost if you think this advice will help others. ***** Hi, have we met? I'm Emily and I'm on a mission to get the #greenbannergang back to work, one actionable step at a time. #jobsearch #jobhunt #jobseekers

Someone said "You should teach a transition class at events like these" while at the Air & Space Forces Association annual event in DC yesterday I explained that I have done that before...but attendance at these major events typically fell into 2x buckets: 1 - many of the senior leaders attending weren't even thinking about their transition, so they focused on talking with friends, attending events & industry engagement 2 - the ones in their transition window were hell-bent focused on "finding a job" by going to pitch themselves to every major defense contractor in attendance #quinnsights Going to these booths and saying "I'm the ...." doesn't tell them anything about what you want or can do Companies don't come to these major events to hire (they come to sell and form partnerships) And that events like these (AFA & AUSA) don't typically "get you a job" They give you an entry point (someone to speak to & maybe build a relationship) #militarytransition But the key to every event is FOLLOW UP What should you do? 1 - connect with them on LinkedIn every time Show them your QR code right there and wait for their connection request to come through (sneaky way to ensure they do) 2 - Go into My Network each night and look at your newest connections They are organized chronologically, so they will all be people from the event 3 - Send them a quick note on LinkedIn saying how great it was to meet them at (insert event name) and that you would love to stay in touch for advice This locks in that you met face-to-face in their Inbox...always leaving a reminder there in case either side reaches out (not a cold pitch) 4 - Make a networking spreadsheet that tracks the people you met AND who responded For the ones that responded, asked some simple questions or for a short advice phone call, if appropriate For the ones that didn't - send an additional follow up message one week later to thank them again and add a short easy question (they'll be back from the event & likely have more time) #militarytransition Once you get to the calls, ask questions to learn and listen more than talk to find your success Questions? Is there anything you would add? And will I see you at the AUSA Fireside Chat/Transition Panel on Tuesday Oct 15 from 1300-1500 in Rm 147A/B in the Washington Convention Center?

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