Pre-Networking & Post-Networking

1. Treat All Your Contacts Like Gold - Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. We can all remember being snubbed or being someone's space filler. Be memorable for the right reasons.

2. Sooner Rather Than Later - In business the best time to exchange cards is when you first meet. Make it a natural part of your introduction so there's none of the anxiety of wondering when you should do the exchange.

3. Use Your Time Wisely - At events avoid the temptation to hang out with the people you came in with or talk only to people you know. This habit limits opportunities to meet new connections.

4. A Helping Hand - If you run into someone you've met before but see that they are struggling to remember your name, help them out. As you shake hands re-introduce yourself by name, "Hello, I'm Jane Doe. We've met before. Nice to see you."

Checklist for after the event:

? Who were the people you met?
? Who were the three most interesting people you met?
? With which people do you plan to follow up?
? What’s your ongoing contact strategy? Adding them on LinkedIn may be a nice start.
? Should you connect any of the people you met with others in your organization?
? What three things from this event would be worthwhile sharing with your colleagues?
? Do you plan to go back to another event hosted by this organization? Why? When?
? If the event was part of an organization- Is there any benefit to becoming more involved with this organization?