Before you grab your ‘networking-to-success’ hat and head to that special work-related event, whether it’s social or business, why not step back and move into ‘discovery’ mode? Discovering as much as you can about the event, before you head out the door, will set you apart from the pack, as well as help you ask good questions.
Asking good questions, improves the chances of having good conversations. Good conversations are the basis for developing good relationships. And in turn, good relationships nurture our business, as well as help us feel good about ourselves.
You may have heard the story about Isidor Rabi. In 1944 he was presented with the Nobel Prize for Physics. When he was asked by the media what led him to pursue the field of science rather than one of the other professions, he said, it was because of his mother. When he would come home from school, his mother would always ask him, “Izzy, did you ask a good question today?” He said it was the asking of good questions that made the difference in the direction he took.
For many of us, if we are planning a trip, chances are high that we’ll do a bit of ground work by asking questions, before packing our luggage and throwing it into the trunk of the car, or hopping on a plane to our destination. Often, however, when it comes to attending a work-related event, we think ‘should go’, instead of, ‘what should I know?’ that help us get the maximum benefit from attending.
So, what are some questions you could ask before you head out the door? While endless in number, here are the basic ‘four’ that that can provide you with buckets of details: What, Why, Where and Who.
What kind of event is taking place?
Is it industry focused or community service focused? Is it geared toward entrepreneurs, or is it more of a social get-together? What is the history behind the event? Is there a particular meeting theme, educational topic or guest speaker highlighted for the event? What is the event’s underlying goal?
Why is this event taking place?
Are people attending the event to support a cause, raise funds, or raise awareness for a special project? Are they here to get new information that supports their industry, business or cause, or lend special support, take a particular action or bestow a special honour on someone?
Where will the event be taking place?
If you know where the event is taking place, you know how to dress for it; casual, formal or somewhere in-between. If you happen to have a role on the agenda, you can get the inside scoop on room size, layout, and acoustics, and how easy the room will be for networking.
Who will be attending the event?
Will there be any high ranking officials or executives that you wouldlike to meet? Is the attendance to the event open to public, limited or closed? Who decides on the invites and how is this decided? Of the people present, are the majority members or guests?
So much of how we feel about ourselves and our successes in life is shaped by the conversations we have with others Why not take a few moments and suss out those few extra details that will put you in a positive light, and take the conversation from good to great at your next networking event.