Networking
I attended an event at the local chamber of commerce today. It shared a presentation about networking, and it made me think of the importance of good old face-to-face meetings… remember them? I think we lost the art of these meetings during COVID, and I don’t think we ever recovered.
I know that we’re supposed to use all this technology we have at hand, and I have to admit that it’s great. Social media, blogging, websites, webinars… all good stuff. Most people will tell you that they prefer a Zoom Call to an in-person meeting. But there’s a lot to be said for getting to know someone through a handshake. It’s kinda cool to see their facial expressions. To laugh together at something funny, as opposed to typing “lol”, or my favorite “Hahaha”.
So, there is a ton of information out there about networking. The presentation I went to today was very informative and enjoyable. I was, of course, networking at the networking presentation. (You can take this notion several layers deep)
Years ago, I was reading about networking, and I loved this piece of advice. Don’t network by talking about yourself. Instead, focus on listening and asking questions. The premise is… If you’re interested in other people, they will find you interesting. That is, ask them about their business. Follow up with a question about what they just told you, or a general business question.
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I’ve found this to be true, for the most part. Of course, you want to answer questions, but focus on listening. Yes, your elevator speech is important. But not as important as using your active listening skills while they are giving you their elevator speech. After all, you already know about yourself.
Something I picked up today that I thought was great. When you’re at a networking event, you might be feeling weird about talking to people you don’t know. Notice the person that’s off to the side, feeling awkward like you, and talk to them. You’ll both feel relieved, and you won’t have to worry about interrupting a conversation.
Think of ways to be a matchmaker with people who you meet. Introduce them to each other. Consider strategic pairings… power partners. Once you’ve met people who can complement each other’s businesses, put them in touch.
How do you feel about networking in person? Are you one of those folks who would rather do a Zoom call? Or is that too much, and you prefer an email? Is networking in person a thing of the past, or does it still have value in today’s business environment?
-Cat
Originally published at https://thehokeypokey.substack.com on July 31, 2026.
