The #1 Question to Stop Asking at Networking Events
A couple years ago, I went to an Ellevate event where all the name tags had conversation starters. Mine said The title of my book is:
When I approached a small group of people, someone asked “What’s the title of your book?” I answered Small Town Girl in the Big City.
This started a long conversation about my childhood growing up on a farm in rural West Virginia and how I came to live in Brooklyn.
I’m sure we eventually talked about our professional lives but it wasn’t what sparked the connection. And it wasn’t the reason we kept in touch.
How many times have you answered the question “What do you do?”
How many times did it kick off a really great conversation where you felt totally at ease?
I read a Forbes article recently where the author asked when’s the last time you delivered a 30 second elevator pitch and got offered a job? Probably never.
What do you do is my least favorite question because it asks multi-dimensional people to define themselves in one dimension.
It puts you on the defensive trying to sum up 10, 20 or 30 years of professional expertise in a 30 second pitch.
On the flip side, it makes the other person feel like they’re being sold to when they just came for the wine and cheese.
Before you kick off another conversation with What do you do consider this:
I recently surveyed 71 introverted professionals about how they're thinking about, feeling about and experiencing networking 1 year into the pandemic.
30% of respondents have a conversation problem. They struggle with what to say, how to introduce themselves, and how to keep conversations going once they've started.
46% have a mindset problem. They're in their heads, worried about being interesting and anxious about coming across as contrived and transactional.
These are fixable problems.
There are much better ways to start conversations and build genuine relationships.
Join me on Wednesday April 7th for a workshop on Networking for Introverts.
I will share tips and strategies to build your confidence, sharpen your skills, and make better connections. Details are here.
And if you can’t make the workshop, check out my interview on the Spitfire podcast? We talk trends from the survey and tips to move past the awkward and start networking with ease.
