Don’t want to miss any tips and tricks for English?
Networking is vital for professional success.
By establishing connections in your field, you can discover new trends, gather insights into companies, and build rapport with potential clients.
However, you need to use the right combination of verbal, non-verbal, and active listening skills to convince others that you are a contact worth staying in touch with.
That’s where I come in.
As an English communication coach, I offer more than just help with tenses or phrasal verbs.
I can help you express yourself clearly and confidently so you can project your best self in professional contexts.
When it comes to networking, especially with clients, the key is to use expressions that set the right tone, professional yet friendly, business-oriented but still personable.
1. Don’t start with titles and swagger, like “I’m the VP of marketing at (name of big important company)” because this can come off as arrogant. You don’t want to shut down any chance of a friendly conversation by drawing focus to yourself and your accomplishments right off the bat.
2. Find common ground in your work or lives and say a line like “I can’t believe we both…” with an enthusiastic tone to add warmth to the conversation.
3. If you really want to build a relationship, ask questions.
Questions prove that you’re not just networking for self-interest, but you’re actually curious about the other person.
Open-ended questions, as opposed to yes-or-no ones, are the best because you get to learn what matters to them, find points of mutual interest, and empathize with their struggles.
For instance, if you ask something like “What are the greatest challenges you (or your company) are facing now?”, you give them the spotlight, and they will feel grateful that someone has asked and is listening. You’ll also discover entry points for where you can work with them and offer solutions.
4. To show you truly care, paraphrase what they’ve said starting with phrases like “What I’m hearing is…” and “Sounds like you are saying…” Paraphrasing is a very effective active listening technique because it demonstrates how much consideration you’ve given everything they’ve said.
5. Lastly, to avoid being pushy or aggressive, use phrases like “Would it be helpful (if I sent you some information about that)…?”, so your interlocutor doesn’t feel pressured and you can keep the channel of communication open for the future.