Networking at conferences – a enviable managerial skill set

You must have seen, met and interacted in the course of your career a great number of successful people. You will have observed that these people somehow know everybody who is somebody, and everybody seems to know them too. Do not attribute this to the fact that they are successful professionals. However, successful you are unless you network constantly, you will not be able to relate to the ever changing scenario in business and professional fields.

How to use conferences to build and promote your network

Anyone who has attended conferences in the past will know that the event provides one with the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with the best professionals in that field. Since, you have the platform, all you need to do is use it for building your network by following the tips given below:

1. There is no better time than when attending conferences to catch up with what and where your colleagues have reached in their career. This is the time to find out where they are at present, note their phone numbers and email ids and overall renew contacts and consolidate your relationships.
   
2. Attending conferences is also a great way to find and make new contacts. Every year new professionals join your field;. This is the best time to keep abreast with the new entrants and enrich your network. It is easy to make new friends during a conference because people usually have the time and inclination to share ideas with others; just walk up and say ‘hello’ – it takes this much to make a new contact.
   
3. Avoid moving in pairs while you attend conferences – this is because when you move in pairs you do not feel the need to make new contacts, and also other will not really want to intrude into your twosome. Hence, you might miss good chances to enrich and enlarge your network.
   
4. Always introduce yourself when you join a group and obtain the introduction (and, if possible, business  cards) of each one of those present. This is a great way to make yourself known to others and also get to know others.
   
5. Learn to listen with an open mind – the greatest mistake that most professionals do is that they keep their business agenda so high in their priority lists that they fail to really see other opportunities around them. When you interact at conferences, be sure you listen. You will be surprised at the twists and turns that fate will expose you to, once you are really tuned in.
   
6. Pursue relationships not the chair – following the contacts you gathered from the conference you just attended, you try to establish a personal relationship first and then a professional one.

Networking is the greatest available tool for any professional’s career. Ensure you make the best of it.