Network Better: Shift from Quantity to Quality Conversations

I noticed lately at networking events I spend more time with fewer individuals. This results in fewer contacts and, therefore, less follow up. But the depth of the conversations reveals more about the individuals, their business needs, and who they are as people. All of those things are better in the long run for me as a person and for my business. Is the change due to a difference in how I approach networking, the events I attend, or the individuals I meet?

Not long ago I attended a speed dating kind of networking event. You know the kind. A timer is set and you spend a max of ten minutes with someone until the bell rings and you switch to a new someone. This arrangement definitely helps people who struggle to get out of a conversation. The switch is mandatory. Problem solved.

Unless your conversation goes in the right direction that is. Then the quick turnover can be irritating and disruptive. I enjoy this kind of networking, but sometimes it leaves both participants hanging.

Did we remember where things ended so we can reach out and catch up? And what happens if the attendees have many great conversations? Is the follow up impacted?

I believe it makes follow up harder in the long run to meet many people in a short amount of time. I am a fan of the richer more leisurely conversations, of reaching back out to three people rather than ten, and of enjoying the networking.

So, what has changed? The question I posed above lingers.

Solution #1: I Changed My Approach. My focus on mindfulness definitely created an attitude change. Years of working on staying in the moment impacted the way I show up for networking. I am much more content to stay in a conversation than in the past. It is not a numbers game. It is a people game. Actually, it is not a game at all. It is life – work life and personal life.

Solution #2: The Events Changed. This is somewhat true. I still attend many of the gatherings I had in the past. However, I added some new ones. Upon reflection, I realized I now experience a like-minded concentration of business people focused on mindfulness. The atmosphere is more casual. The mood emanating from the group unfolds at a leisurely pace during these get-togethers. And, maybe most importantly, an agenda is not the center point.

Solution #3: People I Meet Changed. I believe this is absolutely true. It is not even just the kind of people that changed. I see changes in people generally. Maybe it is originating from the universe itself. Maybe this is a trend. In either case, I encounter a deeper interest in learning more about individuals at a social events than in the past. People exhibit real interest in each other’s lives than in the past.

Solution #4: A Bit of Everything. Maybe, like so much in life, the change is due to a little bit of everything. There are so many factors in a human encounter. They play off each other and mix around until something new emerges.

In any case, the change is good for business. Why not get to the second step of a prospective new client relationship during the first meeting? Such progress can only add to the depth of the relationship and the ease of moving it forward.

What is your experience? Let me know.