When it comes to networking, some people believe serendipity is luck, or chance or accidental. I believe, when it happens, it is meant to happen at that moment, right where you are.
And, there are times when you can create your own Serendipity … by ensuring you’re in a situation where it may occur.
Let’s be strategic about this. How can you create Serendipity when it comes to looking for a job or the promoting your business?
Attend an event, conference, social gathering or other networking opportunity with an expectation. Expect that SOMETHING GREAT is going to happen.
Tell yourself that you are going to meet someone who is going to make a difference in your life.
The 10 Golden Rules of Networking
1. Have Fun. Focus on letting yourself have fun, free from agendas, creating a positive impression on everyone you will meet.
2. Focus on meeting great people. Tell yourself that you are going to have a great time and will meet interesting people.
3. Stay Positive. Armed with a positive attitude, self-confidence and being open for all good things to come, ensure that you are prepared with what is necessary to create the serendipitous moment … business cards, marketing material (if appropriate.)
It’s all well and good to expect great things to happen – just ensure you make the required follow up too.
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4. Be observant. Keep your focus on what is going on around you – who is attending an event, what is actually happening, all this will give you clues as to whom you may wish to approach to ask a question or strike up a conversation. Be open to being approached too.
5. Evaluate your surroundings. If you’re attending an event, conference or social networking event, ask yourself the following questions:
Where will I be the most visible? Where are people most likely to engage with me? Who can I meet that is likely to tell his or her friends about me? Who looks like someone I’d like to have a conversation with?
6. Just BE THERE Don’t plan too much – show up and be prepared to let new people and situations unfold by themselves. If you are relaxed, others will relax with you too.
7. Extend every encounter. When talking with someone new and there is a mutual respect developing, ask if they would like to continue the conversation over lunch or coffee. Be interested. The longer you spend with someone, the more likely you are to discover how you can help each other. There may be other events you could attend together.
8. Make your memory happy. After you meet someone, WRITE DOWN (either on their business card or elsewhere) some memory joggers such as what he or she looked like, what you talked about, some personal info you can bring up next time you talk, your common point of interest.
9. Follow up. Follow up with a phone call or an email within the week. Use the information gathered from the previous example in your second approach. Prove your listening skills. Then, deliver something valuable like a link, recommendation or article.
10. Maintain your network. Weeks, months and years may go by however, keeping in touch with the odd phone call, catch up coffee or even simply an email will maintain the relationship and who knows where the journey may take you. When it comes to Business Networking you must be authentic in all you do – read more here
Sometimes it will happen and you won’t even realise that it was serendipity, other times you will realise that you helped serendipity along a little bit.
Develop a positive attitude of expectation, prepare yourself mentally and when you turn up with a smile, that serendipitous moment (new people, new opportunities) will come to you.
Have you experienced serendipity when networking? Or have you created that moment, somehow, that resulted in a spark, a genuine connection and the beginning of a business relationship?
Share your story in the comments below.
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