Earlier this year, I was lying on a beach in Thailand, when an elegant Englishman started chatting up a young German girl not far from my corner of bliss. Here’s what I learnt about his technique, and how you can apply it to your networking skills.
1. He did his research and sounded her out…He confirmed that her accent was German, which gave him arsenal for…
2. Some soft and appropriate flattery – giving specific examples of what he likes about Germany (I learnt a lot about Germany in those 5 minutes!)
3. He then asked her lots of relevant questions, and listened with genuine interest. All to often at networking events, individuals talk about themselves, and quickly launch into a sales pitch…much better to listen, and pick up on pieces of information, so that you have relevant questions to keep your prospect engaged.
4. He kept it light. They didn’t know each other – now is not the time for heavy, deep or probing subjects. He made a joke about football, and she responded well (and it turned out that she was really into football!)
5. He let the subject flow, and gently bragged. Once he knew she was into football, he worked a small anecdote into conversation, about when he had worked in the industry. When networking, no one wants to listen to someone spouting off their CV, or desperately listing their achievements. You want to give people a hint at what you’ve done, as well as a glimpse of the real you! The way you are – the vibe you carry, what you are like as a person, is as important as your achievements.
6. He had gained relevant information, and knew when to leave. He had given her a taste of himself, and asked for how long she was staying at the resort. He’d established she’d be having dinner at peak time in the hotel restaurant, and that she was alone. He left her interested and intrigued, with no needy or creepy vibes, and he had relevant information so he could follow up if necessary.
Hopefully they lived happily ever after!
I work with clients on elegant living from the inside out, from soft-skills and modern manners, to home, wardrobe and art collections. I pay
attention to the small impressive details, that you might not have
thought of, but that have a big impact. It’s my job to make your life
simpler and easier – a one stop culture and style service to help you be
a more elegant, powerful and polished version of yourself. For more information, and a free style guide, visit the-style-whisperer.com
