After my last series of tweets on how to make the most off tech events, I got a number of DM from people saying things like:
"Ma, I'm always very shy when I attend events, I don't know how to talk to people"
"Please ma, can you give me tips on how to network well, cause when I meet these people, I usually don't know what to say?"
"Ma, how do you do it effortlessly, that you speak to strangers like you know them?"
Well, worry and shy no more, as your fairy events mother is here to help you 😂
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The truth is, it's never really easy being able to speak with people, but when you crack it, you've cracked it for life, and it just keeps getting better.
From my experience, here are some ways to effectively network with people at events, I mean, how to hold interesting conversations with them. (Number 3 is a win for me, especially when they're Westerners that I can barely hear their accent) 🤭
1. Start with a Strong Opening: Begin the conversation with a friendly greeting and a confident introduction. Make sure to maintain good eye contact and offer a genuine smile.
You could decide to begin with something funny from what the person said on stage, (if the person is a speaker), or you could just start by complimenting them on their outfit.
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2. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage the other person to share more about themselves and their work. Open-ended questions typically start with "What," "How," or "Tell me about..."
Before I even introduce myself most times, I try to ask these questions, before I introduce myself midway into the conversation.
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3. Listen Actively: Pay close attention to what the other person is saying. Show interest by nodding, making affirmative sounds, and maintaining good body language.
Even though you can barely hear the person, try to be really attentive, and from the first and last words they said, you'd be able to put the whole sentence together. Don't interrupt them, allow them finish before saying anything, but don't stand there like a statue.
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4. Find Common Ground: Look for shared interests, experiences, or challenges. This helps establish a connection and makes the conversation more engaging.
This is one of the reasons I always say research about them before you reach out to them. This helps you find that common ground, it could be from an event they spoke at previously, or anything they've done before.
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5. Share Relevant Insights: If you have expertise in a particular area, offer insights or ask for their opinion on related topics. This demonstrates your knowledge and adds value to the conversation.
This is where my DeFi knowledge comes to play. If I'm speaking with you, say someone who is also in the Blockchain space, I always find a way to say something that will bring the conversation back to me to give greatly inputs on the topic.
It may sound selfish, but how do you expect the founder of that exchange to notice you, if you don't show them that you know what you're doing.
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6. Avoid Monopolizing the Conversation: While it's important to share about yourself, be mindful not to dominate the conversation. Give the other person a chance to speak and actively listen to their responses.
This is just me saying number 3 again, to tell you how important it really is. You're not a self-centered person.
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7. Be Authentic and Genuine: People appreciate authenticity. Be yourself and let your passion for the tech industry shine through.
If you've heard me speak before, you'd notice how I passionately speak about Web3 or DeFi. I don't intentionally do it, it's the review I get from people.
If you're real, it shows, and if you're fake or just forcing it, it's also easy to know. That's why you need to ask yourself if you're really passionate about your chosen field.
#networking #events #community
"Ma, I'm always very shy when I attend events, I don't know how to talk to people"
"Please ma, can you give me tips on how to network well, cause when I meet these people, I usually don't know what to say?"
"Ma, how do you do it effortlessly, that you speak to strangers like you know them?"
Well, worry and shy no more, as your fairy events mother is here to help you 😂
-------------
The truth is, it's never really easy being able to speak with people, but when you crack it, you've cracked it for life, and it just keeps getting better.
From my experience, here are some ways to effectively network with people at events, I mean, how to hold interesting conversations with them. (Number 3 is a win for me, especially when they're Westerners that I can barely hear their accent) 🤭
1. Start with a Strong Opening: Begin the conversation with a friendly greeting and a confident introduction. Make sure to maintain good eye contact and offer a genuine smile.
You could decide to begin with something funny from what the person said on stage, (if the person is a speaker), or you could just start by complimenting them on their outfit.
-----------------------
2. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage the other person to share more about themselves and their work. Open-ended questions typically start with "What," "How," or "Tell me about..."
Before I even introduce myself most times, I try to ask these questions, before I introduce myself midway into the conversation.
----------------------
3. Listen Actively: Pay close attention to what the other person is saying. Show interest by nodding, making affirmative sounds, and maintaining good body language.
Even though you can barely hear the person, try to be really attentive, and from the first and last words they said, you'd be able to put the whole sentence together. Don't interrupt them, allow them finish before saying anything, but don't stand there like a statue.
--------------------
4. Find Common Ground: Look for shared interests, experiences, or challenges. This helps establish a connection and makes the conversation more engaging.
This is one of the reasons I always say research about them before you reach out to them. This helps you find that common ground, it could be from an event they spoke at previously, or anything they've done before.
---------------------
5. Share Relevant Insights: If you have expertise in a particular area, offer insights or ask for their opinion on related topics. This demonstrates your knowledge and adds value to the conversation.
This is where my DeFi knowledge comes to play. If I'm speaking with you, say someone who is also in the Blockchain space, I always find a way to say something that will bring the conversation back to me to give greatly inputs on the topic.
It may sound selfish, but how do you expect the founder of that exchange to notice you, if you don't show them that you know what you're doing.
--------------------
6. Avoid Monopolizing the Conversation: While it's important to share about yourself, be mindful not to dominate the conversation. Give the other person a chance to speak and actively listen to their responses.
This is just me saying number 3 again, to tell you how important it really is. You're not a self-centered person.
--------------------
7. Be Authentic and Genuine: People appreciate authenticity. Be yourself and let your passion for the tech industry shine through.
If you've heard me speak before, you'd notice how I passionately speak about Web3 or DeFi. I don't intentionally do it, it's the review I get from people.
If you're real, it shows, and if you're fake or just forcing it, it's also easy to know. That's why you need to ask yourself if you're really passionate about your chosen field.
#networking #events #community
Everything you just read would be a total waste, if you don't practice these tips on your next event. As a follow up for you, after you've connected with people from events, on my next post on events series, I'll be showing you how to follow up with people you've successfully connected with at events.
You won't see that post unless you give me a follow @saraidahosa, and also turn on my post notifications.
Be kind enough to also like, comment and repost this post, for other to see and learn, just as you've learnt.
Also bookmark, so you can always come back to the post to re-read 🤭
You won't see that post unless you give me a follow @saraidahosa, and also turn on my post notifications.
Be kind enough to also like, comment and repost this post, for other to see and learn, just as you've learnt.
Also bookmark, so you can always come back to the post to re-read 🤭
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