Comments for Non-Toxic Networking

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Crystal Pina

Crystal Pina — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:02:34 +0000

Last October I went to a wine-tasting networking event that was held in a convention center. These places rent a room for their events so there are several events going on at the same time. It was horrible. I had gone alone but I figured others went alone too and I’d find someone to talk to. Boy was I wrong! When I walked in the room everyone was in groups of 5 or more and it all seemed like they already knew each other. So I got a drink and stood sort of in the middle and tried not to be obvious that I was staring at people. No one even looked my way. So I sat down at a table. Two people sat across from me and talked only to themselves. They didn’t even look at me so I could smile back. The groups never broke up, no one talked to anyone in any other group. No one was networking, just drinking and talking to people they already knew.

So I took my glass of wine and moved over to the next room where there was another networking event going on. This one had vendor booths and food tasting and things to really get you networking. I found the blackjack table and pretty much stayed there because I was afraid I’d be noticed because my nametag was different. It turned out to be a pretty popular booth so I got to do a lot of networking.

Lots of other people came by who had the same type of nametag I had, so it wasn’t just me.

Later, feeling kind of guilty that I bailed, I went back to the first networking event to see if things had picked up. It was worse. There were less people and they were still in their little cliques. So I went home and even met someone to network with on the walk to my car.

I bet the event planners of the other event gloated about “stealing” all the visitors of the first event, lol.

Comment on Networking can be scary! by linkerjpatrick

linkerjpatrick — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:59:32 +0000

About a year ago we conducted an exercise at one of my networking meetings where we worked on our “elevator speeches” and I not only had a poured and poured over my companies mission statement but I had “perfected” even more during this particular meeting. I was super passionate about what I said as well but when I presented my “elevator speech” to the group practically everyone in attendance gave me blank stares and then said they didn’t know what in the world I was talking about.

What I said was basically a longer form of my statement on my web site,

“Committed to creating, organizing and delivering compelling content” but also it added the services we provide that do that including web, print and portable media development.

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Krista Gable

Krista Gable — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:36:40 +0000

While attending my local WBON meeting a few weeks ago, I stood up to give my 30-second spot…which I seem to keep changing over time…anyway, I preceeded to open my mouth and the chair that I had trouble moving on the carpet so I could stand up, started to tip over as I started to speak. See, my very heavy purse was hanging off it. The chair hit the floor and I said, “well, without trying to get more attention that I had intended…let me introduce myself”…

This was not the way I wanted to make a noticeable impression…and I felt myself become a little warm from embarassment because carpet or not…it made a loud noise that could be heard outside the meeting room of the restaurant.

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Candy Beauchamp

Candy Beauchamp — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:47:17 +0000

I actually do okay in networking situations. I don’t like them and I am usually quiet or whatever… but I went to this one a few times and while *I* was fine… but everyone else was crazy - there were some real characters… one guy was a voice/speaking coach and I swear to you, he would SING his 20 second intro.

Oh, but see, he has a partner, so he would segue-way into letting HER sing for 20 seconds so they got 40 seconds, but it was just so weird. and well… just wrong. I nearly chocked on lunch.

… and then there was the freak with the cell phone skit…

No wonder I stay home.

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Jan Schoenfeld

Jan Schoenfeld — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:34:07 +0000

A couple of years ago I was looking to join a Chamber of Commerce. I went over to their office, got information on how to join, sat down and spoke with someone there, and was invited to a networking event. I gathered up my courage and went and not a single soul approached me nor was I able to approach anyone because they were all standing in groups and chatting. There was not one other person there who was by themselves. Later when I was asked why I did not join, I told my contact there that no one person introduced themselves and he didn’t even come over to welcome me. That was the last networking event of that type that I went to.

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Patti

Patti — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:54:49 +0000

I traveled to LA for a conference (totally out of my element as a midwest farmer’s daughter & scared to death of the shear number of people attending). I gulped down my fear and met some great people! After I returned home I corresponded with a prospect whom I had shared four meals with over the three days…Then, I was told that I was very nice but “unapproachable” on the day we shared the meals. I’m still reeling over that one

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Tawnya Sutherland

Tawnya Sutherland — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:22:20 +0000

I went up to a woman I’d met at a previous networking event a few months previously wherein I’d noticed she was pregnant. To open up the conversation and get things flowing, I asked her when the baby was due. She told me she had already had it and the baby was doing well. ACK!!!

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Ruth Martin

Ruth Martin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:57:24 +0000

Years ago, I attended a social gathering and really knew only a few faces. I thought I was approaching a lady I had met casually a few weeks prior. I had heard she was newly engaged and wanted to extend my congratulations and ask about her engagement story. Unfortunately, I congratulated the wrong woman - a woman who physically resembled the one I had met but who was just recently separated from her husband. I didn’t think it could get any worse until we were seated and guess who was my seatmate?

Where was Non-Toxic Networking when I needed it? I’m looking forward to the release so I’ll never worry about making another blunder again.

Comment on Networking can be scary! by JudyAnn Lorenz

JudyAnn Lorenz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:56:02 +0000

I followed the directions for networking! I greeted the visiting speaker and introduced myself. I sent him a card afterward to really impress him.

He returned a card — Navy Blue paper and a message written with a SILVER sharpie. This guy was loaded for networking bear!

Comment on Networking can be scary! by Jennifer Gniadecki

Jennifer Gniadecki — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:10:15 +0000

One of my favorite networking horror stories: I was at a leads group, and I had gotten lost on the way there and as a result I was late. When I sat down, it was immediately my turn and I hadn’t had a chance to hear anyone else speak. I was so scared I was going to say the wrong thing. I did my best to stammer through it and sat down with the most overwhelming feeling of relief.

Now I’m always early to events. Don’t want that to happen again!