Maximize your time and financial investments at a professional conference by having a focused networking plan to meet more of the right people in less time.

1. The Secrets of Successful
Networking
Jeff Richardson
Chief Transformational Engineer
Empowered Alliances
www.SecretsOfSuccessfulNetworking.com
Jeff@EmpoweredAlliances.com (650) 269-5395

2. Secrets of Successful Networking
Conference Networking
Workshop Objective: Develop a plan to
meet more of the “right” people at the
AEE conference by systematically trying
new techniques and evaluating results.
Networking Objective: develop a
mutually beneficial network of influential
people in my profession & community

3. Networking Agreements
Be Interested
Concise Communication
Commit to Adding Value
Initiate Meaningful Conversations
How would the use of these agreements
impact networking experience?

4. The Experiential Learning Linkage
Copyright Empowered Alliances Pg 4

5. What’s Your Networking Style?
The Loner
The Loner The Socializer
The Socializer
• Likes to do most things by themselves • Tries to make a friend of everyone they
(because they do it faster or better) meet
• Doesn’t want to bother or worry other people • Tends to know people’s names and faces
• Feels that their knowledge and skills are often but not what they do
superior to most people • Is not usually systematic or ordered
• Only asks for help as a last resort (and when it about follow-up – contact is random
may be too late) • May not listen too deeply and is quick to
move on
The User
The User The Builder
The Builder
• Is likely to collect business cards without • Has a ‘giving’ disposition or abundance
really connecting with people mentally
• Tries to make ‘sales’ or ‘pitches’ on the first • Is generally happy to ask others for help or
encounter guidance
• Talks and focuses on own agenda rather • Listens and learns about people carefully
than together information • Is regularly on the look-out for useful
• Has superficial interactions information for which others can also benefit
• Keeps score when giving favors • Has a well-ordered and organized
networking system

6. You’re Only 1-2 Connections Away
1-
YOU
How will this
connection
REFLECT ON
ME ?

7. TRUST
Sincerity Reliability
Care Competence
How are you building trust within your Network?

8. The Secret of Successful
Networking…
…Give something of value*
so you’ll be
remembered and referred!
(Repeat)

9. Three Phases of the Networking Process
Before a conference
Plan how to maximize networking results
1. Select the conference
2. Define your networking goals
3. Decide who you want to meet
4. Identify ways to add value

10. Great Goals to Go For…
Try something new to challenge yourself
◦ Initiate conversations with influencers
◦ Break into group / Break away from conversation
◦ Be bold by doing something to get noticed*
Seek simple ways to add value to people
◦ Make people feel more comfortable
◦ Connect them with their “right” person
◦ Provide critical or novel information
Work on how you say…
◦ Your introduction to create intrigue
◦ What types of people you are looking to meet
◦ Questions to drive intriguing conversations

11. Target Audience Defined
Title
Function
Expertise
Company
Location

12. Three Phases of the Networking Process
During a networking event
Relax, meet people and build new relationships
Keep your goals in mind
Connect with key experts
Find ways to engage
Listen for ways to add value

13. Conversation Starters
1. Compliment the other person
◦ Be subtle
◦ Be sincere
◦ Be observant

14. Conversation Starters
1. Compliment the other person
2. Ask a conversation starting question that…
Is relevant to event/situation
Draws out person’s interests and/or needs
That YOU already have an answer to

15. Conversation Starting Questions
What interests you
about (topic)? What are you
passionate about?
What workshop(s) are What do you hope to get
you looking forward to? from the conference?
What do you like most
about ______?

16. Conversation Starters
1. Compliment the other person
2. Ask a conversation starting question
3. Short answer to “What do you do?” to
create intrigue framed as “Who Am I?”
Adjective + professional title (Creative SW Engineer)
Career direction (“I’ve been a __, but I’d rather be __”)
Catchy title (Chief Transformational Engineer)

17. Three Phases of the Networking Process
After a networking event
Follow-up and build longer-term relationships
Evaluate progress to goals
Plan specific follow-up steps
Continue to provide value as a way
to build relationships
Make it easy for YOU to help others
and for others to help you

18. Let’s Keep Networking…
Jeff@EmpoweredAlliances.com
650-269-5395 in Silicon Valley
Facebook - www.Facebook.com/Jefferson2U
◦ Social happenings and AEE’s West region page
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/JeffersonOnline
◦ Professional networking tool of choice
◦ Join the Secrets of Successful Networking LinkedIn group
Twitter – www.Twitter.com/Jefferson2U
◦ Still trying to figure it all out :)