This is especially true in networking situations when my nerves are already a little high and I’m concerned with leaving on a positive note.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
This Is How To End Conversations At Networking Events
This is especially true in networking situations when my nerves are already a little high and I’m concerned with leaving on a positive note.
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Typically I find the quick, catchy business articles to be very surface level and sometimes even, unhelpful, but this one was extremely useful. Similar to the author, I do not struggle starting conversations, but often do not know how to end them. Especially at networking events, where I want to meet as many people as possible and then get the heck home, I like having a simple escape plan. All three options that the author suggested would work well during a networking event. However, I do think that the business card exit is the best option because you do not need another person and it allows you to have a tangible memory of the conversation, the business card. I also like to write a few notes about our conversation on the back of business card, so when you write a follow up email you have personal notes from your conversation. This can help them remember you better and also give your email a thoughtful touch.
This was a great read. I never have a problem starting a conversation, I have a problem getting out of one. There is a point where you know what you need to know about a person to determine if this is going to be an important contact (personal, professional, other) in your life. The article gives some great advice for getting out of a conversation but I think it should offer one more, simply say, it was nice to meet you, let’s chat more and excuse yourself. Simple and effective. Sometimes we find ourselves in those situations where making a professional contact is not even going to be worth your time. Don’t be afraid to just end the conversation and move on to another in the room. You’re there to network, you are not there to have one conversation with one person in the corner the whole time, that is not networking, that’s hanging out with a friend. Confidence in starting a conversation should be the same as ending one.
Yikes. Being an adult is hard, especially when you're thrust into professional situations where you want to tread lightly around potential employers, partners, and employees. The article does agree that these conversation closers can be quite awkward. I did like the third tip though: "Ending a conversation doesn’t mean you both have to head to opposite sides of the room–it can also mean seguing your existing conversation into a new one (with new people involved).
Let’s say that you spotted someone you know across the room. Why not offer to make an introduction between that person and the new acquaintance you’re currently talking to?
You can then excuse yourself from that conversation (or even stick around if you’d like), while still fostering a reputation as a beneficial business contact who’s all about making connections." Introducing a new person to someone you already know seems like a smart way of kind of pawning them off onto someone else.
This article was really helpful and really effective. I felt that it was simple and well condensed so as to not make the subject for foreboding and confusing. I often find myself looking ahead and freaking out about how something is going to end when I am still in the middle of the conversation. Its nice that this article provides easy ways to exit a conversation so that the worry is nonexistent from ones mind. I think that the most effective method is the second one where you make future plans. This kills two birds with one stone as not only are you exiting the conversation in a smooth way, you are also making the first steps in establishing a long-term relationship. When I end conversations with people, I am often scared that they feel as if I am blowing them off so this promise of an additional meeting would soothe my fears of anyone thinking I do not care about what they have to say.
As someone who is wildly socially anxious, I'm always trying to find ways to subtly and smoothly end conversations when I start to feel uncomfortable or feel like the conversation for me has reached an end point, but don't want to be seen as rude or disinterested. The first and last strategies are ones that I've never thought of or tried before, but they seem fairly obvious and good for professional image, too. Exchanging business cards, for example, not only ends a conversation in a polite and professional way, but also helps to tangibly network you beyond just a one and done conversation. And you can find all the nifty business cards people have (some of them are pretty neat!). The last one actually seems like something that could be ideal for wanting to 'duck out' politely. By transferring attention to another person, not only are you giving yourself a good reputation of being helpful to others, but you can also leave once they get deep in conversation without anyone noticing and head on to the next conversation without a hitch! I'm definitely going to be trying these strategies in the future.
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