Latest Interviews
Paul French – ‘Speedworking And You’
Posted: Thursday 19th Jun 2008
So what happened at last month’s Wired Wessex networking event? A lot of networking, surprisingly enough…
This time, though, there was an added reason to start talking. Our guest speaker, Vidibiz’s Paul French, was giving a talk on the joys of speed networking, and by goodness everyone there was going to join in.
But before we did that, Paul told us how to network properly. Firstly, you need to have a quick, well-worded introduction ready. If you can’t do it in 20 words, shorten whatever it is you would say to 20. Then remember it.
Secondly, remember that they don’t want to hear about you, but rather what you can do for them. Just in case you’ve forgotten, you’re all in it for the money, like The Monkees and the judges of Britain’s Got Talent. So how are you going to convince the person you’ve just met to give you their money?
Thirdly, make sure you’ve got a business card or even just a sheet of paper to write your details on. Never forget that they might want your e-mail address and telephone number so they can buy things off you. Try not to use a crayon or a beer mat – the effect can appear amateurish.
Fourthly, remember to wear the right clothes – but what these can be might surprise you. Paul thinks it’s what you’re most comfortable in, rather than what you think would be most suitable. Networking is all about presenting yourself and that’s hard to do if you’ve been forced into a rigid black and white business suit that wouldn’t look out of place at a Scottish funeral. Business folk must be at ease when they’re in networking mode, or at least, in their trainers.
Then the speed networking began as we moved around the room, swapping cards – or at least names – then moving on every couple of minutes as Paul rang a bell. Here the all-important 20-word-summary came into effect, but there was also the challenge of keeping up the conversation after that initial burst. Networking seems to be a combination of enthusiasm, preparation and endurance, and that was the lesson we all took home after a very interesting talk.