I had the opportunity to hear business training professional Sarah Zink speak at the monthly C3 for Women event in Fort Worth. She listed the top five worst networking habits. They are:
• Stop Assaulting People – stop “assaulting people with your business card,” Zink suggests. She advises that exchanging business cards is the last step in the networking process. Talk to someone for a few moments and then hand it over should they request.
• You’re not a card collector – “She who dies with the most business cards does not win,” proclaimed Zink. She suggests taking notes on the cards you intend to keep and then tossing the rest.
• How’s your hand? Where’s your eye? What’s that you said? – Learn how to give a firm handshake. Zink suggests Queen Elizabeth is the only one who is able to offer a bent finger shake, the rest of us should offer a firm hand ensuring a proper connection with the recipient. Don’t be bashful look your new acquaintance in the eye and speak clearly.
• Forget the name tags. – Even though someone’s name tag might not reflect a targeted industry, Zink advises what you really want to know is who they know not who they work for. “A professional networker doesn’t read name tags,” she said. Networking is about making a connection with an individual.
• Stop selling! – Go to events to give not to sell. You’ve got to give before you get!
• Stop Assaulting People – stop “assaulting people with your business card,” Zink suggests. She advises that exchanging business cards is the last step in the networking process. Talk to someone for a few moments and then hand it over should they request.
• You’re not a card collector – “She who dies with the most business cards does not win,” proclaimed Zink. She suggests taking notes on the cards you intend to keep and then tossing the rest.
• How’s your hand? Where’s your eye? What’s that you said? – Learn how to give a firm handshake. Zink suggests Queen Elizabeth is the only one who is able to offer a bent finger shake, the rest of us should offer a firm hand ensuring a proper connection with the recipient. Don’t be bashful look your new acquaintance in the eye and speak clearly.
• Forget the name tags. – Even though someone’s name tag might not reflect a targeted industry, Zink advises what you really want to know is who they know not who they work for. “A professional networker doesn’t read name tags,” she said. Networking is about making a connection with an individual.
• Stop selling! – Go to events to give not to sell. You’ve got to give before you get!
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