THE sourcing conference. A giant room filled to the brim with people you’ve never met. Does the sheer thought of having to attend an event like this send shivers down your spine? Some people have a natural ability to adjust to any social situation that they find themselves in and thrive on meeting new people and making new business connections. Those who haven’t been blessed with the ‘gift of the gab’ on the other hand, don’t tend to get the same kick out of networking as their extrovert peers.
To help, this year will mark the debut of the SourceCon Welcome Wagon, an initiative enacted to introduce attendees to the nuances of the Conference with primary goals of ensuring an incredible conference experience and building a stronger and more collaborative sourcing community. The Welcome Wagon Committee is comprised of past, present, and future SourceCon presenters, Grandmasters, and sourcing influencers young and old, who have attended many (and in some cases, all) past conferences.
If that isn’t enough, these 12 tips should help you on your way…
Tip #1: Put your phone away
The temptation will be strong, but we really can’t stress just how necessary it is for you to NOT use your phone as a crutch when you’re hanging around a sourcing conference. This is the time that you’re supposed to be getting to know others and make business connections. If you’re using your phone just as a way to look less awkward, people are going to assume that you are too busy to chat and will most certainly avoid talking to you.
Let this be a rule for using your phone when you’re at an event – you can only use your phone if the purpose is to share contact information with someone that you’ve just met whilst networking. Or to brag about how much fun you’re having (use the #SourceCon hashtag).
Tip #2: Ask questions
And no, we’re not talking about “do you come here often?” Approaching people that you’ve never met and trying to make conversation can be daunting, there’s no doubt about it. Just remember that you are there for the exact same reason as everyone else – to network and learn! Try to open the conversation by asking the person or group what they think of the conference so far. Then introduce yourself and ask them what company they work for. Remember, people love answering questions about themselves so make sure that you have a couple of general questions to ask.
Tip #3: Try to find common ground…fast
If you’re going to a sourcing conference, chances are you should be able to make conversation with…you’ve guessed it…other sourcers. This is a prime time for you to talk about what’s going on in the industry. Let’s not forget the fact that you know this stuff inside out. The minute you establish that you have something in common, the conversation will flow. If you’re really struggling, however, you could just ask the person if they’ve ever heard of George Boole or even Social Talent…just saying, could be a nice little ice-breaker (shameless plug there, apologies all round…).
Tip #4: Remember that you’re working
Sometimes, it’s easier for you to simulate confidence if you can just remind yourself that this is part of your job. It’s cliché but think of the mantra “fake it til you make it.” You don’t need to be cocky or overly confident. Just keep in mind that you are representing your company, and so you need to push yourself to be able to report back to base with information about all of the interesting new contacts you’ve made. At the very least, you shouldn’t be leaving the conference without at least one person being able to vouch for the fact that you were actually there. Think to yourself “if a tree falls but no one was around to see it, does it make a noise?” Well in this situation, you’re that tree, so if you need to channel your more confident alter-ego to get the job done, so be it (hey, if it works for Beyoncé…).
Tip #5: Don’t be a clinger
This is very significant. It’s incredibly easy to become a Stage Five clinger when you find someone that is open to chatting with you. Unless you find yourself in a Stepbrothers-style “Did we just become best friends?” situation, it’s essential to recognize when it’s time to move on. Remember, you’re not there to hang out with someone purely so that you don’t have to be on your own, it’s for you to network with other sourcers and recruiters in your field that you can potentially connect with again. The general rule of thumb is not to make someone feel uncomfortable just so that you can feel comfortable.
Tip #6: Remember, everyone is probably just as awkward as you
The thing about networking when it comes to introverts is that you probably feel that you stick out like a sore thumb and people can tell just how unbelievably awkward you are, but in reality, chances are that over half of the people in that room are in exactly the same boat as you. And we’re not just saying that! People are generally delighted to make conversation and find out more about you and vice-versa. Sometimes the best thing to do is to just acknowledge the elephant in the room and say “These events can be so awkward, can’t they” Guaranteed, at least one person will agree with you and it will be a nice ice-breaker to get the conversation started.
Tip #7: Talk to the speakers/organizers
If you’re feeling particularly shy, be safe in the knowledge that you can always approach the organizers of the conference as well as the speakers to let them know how much you’re enjoying yourself. These people will always be open to chatting with you for a couple of minutes, and that in itself should give you the boost of confidence you need to approach individuals or groups to start networking. Talking to the speakers and organizers is also a great way to chat about your own organization and what it is that you do. You may even get some insider tips or information about future events that you can take back to the office and report to management. Major brownie points right there.
Tip #8: Even if you’re attending with co-workers, make it your business to break away
Huge sigh of relief. The office is also sending “Julie” to the Conference. Wonderful, that means that you don’t have to talk to strangers, you can just hang out with Julie for the day. Completely wrong attitude to have, we’re afraid. Even if you’re attending an event with your co-workers, it’s really important for you to try to meet new people as well. Even if it means encouraging your co-worker to approach another group with you, you should make it your business to make at least three new contacts during the conference. If anything, you should use the fact that there is someone you know there as a boost of confidence that you’re perfectly capable of networking.
Tip #9: Do your research
Before the conference even takes place, look up event hashtags on Twitter and try to connect with people who will also be attending ahead of time. Bill Boorman has a saying “never meet a stranger.” If you can take the opportunity to connect with someone ahead of an event that you know they’ll be at, by all means, do it! I hear LinkedIn and the Facebook SourceCon group are very popular. Let them know that you will also be at the event and that it would be great to grab a coffee together.
Tip #10: Don’t think that everyone is a competitor
Remember, networking is a two-way street. You’re not there to pass out a bunch of your business cards and talk about how amazing you are. You’re there to get to know other sourcers. This comes back to the point about how important it is to ask questions; no one likes a sourcer that only talks about themselves. Another point to make here is that you shouldn’t be looking at other sourcers who are attending the same event as you as your competitors.
Tip #11: Get rejected!
Let’s just keep it real. You can do everything absolutely right, and sometimes on occasion, you’ll stumble upon a group that’s in the middle of a deep and meaningful conversation about a merger in their firm, not realizing that they are all co-workers, or maybe you’ll approach someone that is about to hand their notice into their company and has zero interest in networking. The most important thing is that you don’t take this personally. Brush that dirt off your shoulder and move onto the next one.
Tip #12: Practice makes perfect!
Remember that the more time you spend doing anything, the better you’ll get at it. Try to make it your business to check out as many networking events and sourcing conferences in your area as possible and put everything that we have suggested into practice. Slowly, the fear should start to lift and networking won’t seem like such a daunting task. And if in doubt, remember this…you are not as awkward as you think you are!
You can see the original post by visiting the Social Talent Blog.