7 Ways to Boost Your Communication Skills for Better Networking
Subscribe to Articles
Networking is first and foremost about communication. A great relationship strategy is communicating with your peers so you can begin the process of building profitable relationships over time. We developed these tips that will boost your communication skills and lead to quality connections. Read on to learn these great networking skills.
7 Ways to Increase Your Networking Communication Skills
Consider Your Audience
Before you begin a dialogue with anyone, consider who that person is. Take a minute to recall any previous conversations you may have had with this person. Consider how this person prefers to communicate, such as, are they a very detailed person? Then you can consider the best method of communication, be it brief, face-to-face meetings, messaging on LinkedIn, or email correspondence.
Practice Public Speaking
If you are someone who gets nervous before speaking to anyone in a business setting, practicing public speaking techniques can help you improve your networking skills. If you can practice and master public speaking to the point where you are articulate and more at ease in front of a group, communicating one-on-one will be much easier.
Pay Attention
Listening is one of the most important things you can do in networking. Start by making sure you are fully focused on the other person. When in conversation, it is a great idea to pick up on key details in the conversation for possible use later.
Take Notes
After your meeting, be sure to jot down all relevant points while they are still fresh in your mind. You will want to take these notes because it will ensure you have all the correct information about your connection and any details of your meeting. The last thing you will want is a breakdown in communication that may cause you to miss a future meeting or deadline.
Be Empathetic
When you express empathy for your peers, it significantly improves your communication skills. People like to know that you can relate to them and their struggles. Therefore, this can make them more likely to reach out to you later. Over time, word will get out in your network that you are someone of value who they can reach out to if ever needed. If you have a reputation like this, it can increase your network significantly.
Paraphrase and Ask Questions
Sometimes while networking, a conversation can get off track now and then. One remedy for that is to paraphrase a segment of your relevant conversation to steer the conversation back to business. You can also ask a few questions about the relevant topic, with the guise that you want to make sure you are clear about the other person’s idea.
Get Out There and Do It
The old saying goes, “practice makes perfect”. Networking, like most everything else, is a skill that takes time to cultivate. Consider your networking events as a classroom where you can master this valuable skill that can help you grow your business. Over time, you will effectively network your way through the room at events like a pro.
Contact Promotora Systems, Inc. to empower your success with our many business development services including network management.