Thou Shall Not Sell At A Networking Event...Ever

As we begin a new year here’s a networking commandment that bears remembering: thou shall not sell at a networking event – ever. 

The problem with some networking events is that people network for new business. Here’s a question I’ve asked many times.

“How many people are here today to buy something?"

I can promise you the majority of the time, no one’s, absolutely no one’s, hand goes up. Yet, business people still have the objective of “getting new business” at networking events. It is the most frustrating networking behaviour – for those doing it and those exposed to it.

When we have the “gotta get me some business” attitude at a networking function it means we’re in sales mode. We’ve all seen that sales person. It looks something like this… rapid-fire …“Hi, my name’s Christel, I sell underwater baskets and I can get you the right basket no matter what and I sell to tall people, blue-eyed people, blonde-haired people, young people, old people, brown-haired people. I can sell to everybody. Sign here to buy a basket!” 

I know, you can feel yourself stepping back, can’t you?

So, let’s take another approach. Let’s try networking mode.

When we go to a networking event in networking mode we’re looking to make connections, not sales. And that’s the best networking behaviour.

We attend the event with a plan to: 1) meet a few people (who might become mutually beneficial relationships); 2) make a good impression; and, 3) schedule a next meeting. 

That’s effective networking. Try it at your next (and every) networking event.