Networking Events – 5 Questions You Must Ask
Posted on June 16, 2010 by Renegade Success Coach
I remember my very first official networking event like it was yesterday. My good from of 20 years Tiauna invited me. To be frank, I had no idea what to expect.
Everyone likes to talk about themselves. So you should ask questions designed to pull them away from their elevator speech.
Here a 5 questions I have found to be useful in connecting with people, who on the surface, appear to have nothing in common at all. I used these very questions while helping a friend who is a photographer at a recent art festival.
1. How did end up in your line of work? In many cases, people land their jobs or start their own businesses through chance encounters or some stroke of luck.
Think about how you ended up in your profession or how a friend started their own business. My story alone was pure chance and luck. You will find their stories interesting and the person often breaks out of their shell (elevator speech) quickly and easily.
2. What does your dream customer look like? This question will allow their true motivation to rise to the surface as well as the goals they have. Caveat: You must listen carefully to what is being said.
3. What is your greatest achievement in business to date? This is another great way to get to know the person better. Again, this allows them to tell you a story about how it all came to be. Remember, stories are engaging for everyone involved.
4. What do you love most about profession or your business? This is where the person’s business will come alive as you listen to what really excites them.
5. Are there things you wish you could change? Here is where you may be able to help them. Either make the progression to becoming a client or you could point them in the direction of someone you already met who could help them improve their lives.
While these questions tend to help you get the conversation rolling, they aren’t intended to be used as interviews questions. Relax and let the conversation flow.
Based on my experience, you never know where they could take you at your next networking event.
Tags: Entrepreneur Mindset, Mark Sumpter, networking, networking events
Filed Under: Entrepreneur Mindset
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