Is There a Time NOT to Go Networking?

One day last week we had a really busy day in the office, with some interesting issues to sort out. By the end of the day I was ready for the TV and a glass of wine. Before I left the office I checked my diary and realised that I’d booked to go to a breakfast networking meeting at 8am the following day. That meant getting up earlier than usual and a 40 minute drive to the meeting, instead of the usual 5 minute walk to my office. I would need to be awake, interested and enthusiastic, instead of warming up gently in front of my computer. Given the day I’d just had, I didn’t see this happening, so I sent the meeting organiser an email with my apologies.

Does it matter if you turn up at a networking meeting and you’re not on top form? I think so. If you’re not able to present yourself at your best, show interest in everyone there and put some enthusiasm into what you do and say, you won’t get the best from your time (and money). You could also do yourself and your business reputation more harm.

Even when I am feeling on top form and ready to attend a networking meeting, I still sigh when someone asks me “What do you do?” Why do I sigh? Because it’s the dullest question you can ask of someone else! It actually shows that the person asking it isn’t really interested in your answer. They will politely wait for you to answer, in the hope that you’ll be quick and then ask them “What do you do?” so that they can then talk at you for 10 minutes. If you don’t oblige with the required question, have you noticed how many people will help you by just saying “That’s interesting and what I do is …”?!

In August 2014 Appletree turned 14. To make my networking a bit more interesting I made myself a badge. It simply had the number 14 on it. Now you’d think that a few people might notice and ask me about the badge. They might have wanted to know why it said ‘14’ instead of my name, wouldn’t you? I was amazed by the number of people who either didn’t notice it, or who didn’t ask me about it. They just stuck to the standard “What do you do?” question.

So, the next time you’re planning a networking meeting, think about two things. Firstly, are you in the mood for it? If not, treat yourself to a lie in and a peaceful morning in the office. Secondly, what are you going to ask the people you meet?

I’ve been writing a series of tweets that give you 101 alternatives to the “What do you do?” question. You can find them and follow us here. Once the series is finished (I have about five more to add!) we’ll publish them all here in this blog. If you have any suggestions for good questions we might not already have in the list, get in touch to share them.