Some of the most important charismatic networking tips are usually the simplest. It’s not about a complicated sales pitch or reeling off all your accomplishments; it’s about being present and making a genuine and authentic connection with the other person. The biggest mistake you can make is to go in for the ‘kill’ and sell the hell out of your product or service. If you want to improve your charisma either for networking events, job interviews, or investors, then you will need charisma coaching. Book your discovery call by clicking below:
7 Charismatic Networking Tips
- Create a good first impression
- Make them the star of the show
- Actively listen
- Ask killer questions
- Forget about business, get personal
- Perfect your elevator pitch
- Follow-up strategy
Why Is Charisma Important When Networking?
Charisma and networking go hand in hand. Networking aims to find and build a relationship with someone, to eventually do business together. If you think of networking as a car, and charisma is the petrol you put in, you can just sit in your car, but without petrol, you are not going to go anywhere.
Charisma helps you establish a deep connection, become more memorable, and build better rapport with the person you are networking with. You may have a great idea or pitch; however, without charisma, you will find that no one will ‘buy into’ your idea and feel compelled to join you on the journey. Charisma is key, and for you to develop your charisma, you can do a range of charisma exercises or you can work with us to get charisma coaching.
7 Charismatic Networking Tips
If you are going to head into the battlefield of business and you need to become a more persuasive networker, then you are going to need these 7 charismatic networking tips that aim to outline the most effective process when it comes to building rapport with a client, potential business partner, or investor.
Create a Good First Impression
The key to becoming more memorable at a networking event is to create a good first impression. Whether we like it or not, people judge a book by its cover, but that shouldn’t intimidate you, because you can use this to your advantage. Here are some tips to help create the impression you want:
- Wear appropriate clothing
- Make eye contact
- Avoid phone watching
- Smile
Wearing appropriate clothing is crucial. If you are wearing a fancy watch and a suit, that may work well at a corporate banking networking event; however, at a start-up networking event, this can just look arrogant. Research the networking event you are going to and figure out its audience, for example, is it young professionals, creatives, CEOs, or tradespeople? This determines how you dress accordingly.
Making eye contact is a powerful tool to build rapport with the person you are speaking to at the networking event. Eye contact releases a chemical in the person’s brain called ‘oxytocin,’ also known as the ‘bonding hormone,’ which can help build trust, show confidence, and create a connection.
Avoiding staring at your phone can be difficult, especially if you are at a networking event yourself. There will be moments when you will not know anyone, and to not look awkward, you will appear busy handling emails. The problem with this is it compromises your confident body language; looking down, hunched scrolling through your phone doesn’t convey the confident and competent message you want people to know you for. Learn to resist the temptation, have your shoulders back, correct your posture, and own the room!
Smiling is one of the simplest ways to increase your charisma. Humans gravitate towards those who have fun and express positivity, and smiling is the best way to do this. A smile can be infectious; if you are happy, then you can have others gravitate towards you with your genuine enthusiasm.
Make Them The Star of The Show
The problem people have when they go to networking events is they are too quick to jump in and start telling people about their idea, product, or service. This is a selfish approach and can kill your charisma. How excited are you to talk to someone who is trying to sell you something on the spot? Not at all! Your goal is to resist the temptation to talk about yourself; instead, you want to adopt the persona of the ‘Talk Show Host.’
Think of a talk show you have seen. Are you more interested in the host or the star-studded celebrities they have on their sofa? Of course, it’s the stars we are interested in; we love their stories and funny anecdotes. When you are at a networking event, you need to make them the star of the show. You can do this by:
- Be present in the moment
- Be interested in the other person
- Remember their name
- Compliment sincerely
Being present in the moment can be difficult. You need to find the enjoyment in speaking to someone, learning about them, and seeing how you can help them. Eye contact and asking relevant questions can help, but also try to put aside distractions and thoughts that may take you out of the moment.
Being interested in the other person may sound obvious, but I guarantee you are not doing it. It’s a fundamental charismatic networking tip. Adopt the persona of an explorer who is passionate about learning about new species; you are looking to learn as much as you can to build a strong relationship with the other person.
Remembering their name is charisma 101. Dale Carnegie wrote that “the sweetest sound a person can hear is their name.” You do not need to drop it every two words, but remembering a name shows respect to the other person. How many times have you heard someone say, “I am so bad with names I’ll probably forget yours”? It doesn’t make you feel wanted, does it?
A sincere compliment can help make them feel like a star. Avoid romantic compliments or anything about their outfit (unless you have a genuine compliment about their style). Stick to either professional compliments or how they make you feel. Here are a few examples:
- “So you work at X company;
I hear they have a rigorous hiring process; you must be the best!”
- “X is a competitive industry; you had to work hard to get where you are.”
- “You seem so much fun; I bet you are a laugh to work with.”
Actively Listen
Listening is perhaps one of the most active things you can do, and that is why it is one of the vital charismatic networking tips in the art of charisma. It’s important to know the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is a physical process; your ears vibrate and translate the sound into words. Active listening is not just listening with your ears, but also your eyes and your mind.
This is so important because when you are speaking to someone, they can briefly mention a project they are working on that you could help with, but it could just be a word or two. If you are not actively listening, then you could easily miss these details. But it’s not just words you are looking out for; it is also:
- The tone in their voice
- Their facial expressions
- Their body language
- The words they are saying
Taking all these factors into consideration when actively listening.
Ask Killer Questions
There are three common questions that everyone gets asked at a networking event:
- What do you do for a living?
- Where do you work?
- Do you know X person?
We get asked these questions so much that we feel numb answering them. It doesn’t excite us, and that’s why asking a killer question is the perfect charismatic networking tip. Asking questions doesn’t just give us information, but it releases ‘dopamine’ (the pleasure chemical in the brain) within the other person. They will scientifically feel more likeness towards you the more dopamine you can release. You can do this by asking killer questions on topics they are passionate about. The best way to do this is to ask OPEN questions which are questions that start with:
- How
- What
- Why
These are ideal because they invite the other person to give more information than just a yes or no answer. Some examples could be:
- What made you get into X industry?
- Why did you start your company?
- How did you go about getting your first client?
- What do you do outside of work?
- How do you relax after a week of work?
- Why do you do what you do?
Forget About Business, Get Personal
One of the best charismatic networking tips I received was to forget about talking about business. It’s too tempting to talk about Q4 growth or P&L reports. While these topics may have their place at a networking event, people cannot connect with numbers and stats. They connect over emotions, and the best way you can do that is by getting the person to open up and talk personally. The best way you can do this is to share stories.
Storytelling is an incredibly powerful form of communication. It makes us more memorable, increases our likability, and helps us connect with someone on an emotional level. We can relate to the feelings and characters in your stories, and take the opportunity at a networking event to not only share stories but invite others to tell theirs. Here are some examples you can use of stories you can share:
- How you got started in the industry
- A client success story
- Interesting colleague interaction
- Experiences from previous jobs
- A moment where your opinion changed
- An experience that turned out to be a learning curve
Storytelling is a superb charismatic networking tip!
Perfect Your Elevator Pitch
Inevitably, the dreaded question “So, what do you do?” will come up at a networking event. You need the perfect elevator pitch to tell the other person exactly what you do in a captivating way that leaves them wanting more. For the ultimate elevator pitch, you can use the following formula:
- The Hook
- Introduction
- Value
- Ending
The hook is to grab the attention of the person you are speaking to.
The introduction gives a brief outline of your day job.
The value is what you bring to people.
The ending is just putting it all together.
Let’s look at an example:
- Hook – “I work in a $500,000 Mercedes.”
- Introduction – “In all seriousness, I am a transport specialist.”
- Value – “I help clients get to destinations in a convenient, comfortable, and safe way.”
- Ending – “I love it because I get to speak to different people every day.”
Follow-Up Strategy
So you have made a connection with someone at a networking event; the hard work is not finished yet. To cultivate a strong relationship, it’s going to take more than a 30-minute meeting at a networking event. You are going to need a strong follow-up strategy. I like to use the GIVE, GIVE, GIVE method.
Think of relationships as a bank account; you need to make a deposit of funds into the account before you can make a withdrawal. The more you deposit, the bigger the amount you can withdraw. Think of every little thing you give as a deposit into the relationship bank account. You can do things such as:
- Invite out for coffee
- Email them an article that you think they would like
- Whatsapp a book recommendation
- Invite them to another networking event
- Offer to play their favorite sport
- Introduce them to someone in your network
Look to give at any opportunity. Once you have sufficiently given enough value, you can ask them for a favor.
In conclusion, mastering the art of charismatic networking is not just about showcasing your achievements but about creating genuine connections. By adopting a ‘Talk Show Host’ approach, making others the star of the show, actively listening, asking killer questions, and getting personal through storytelling, you can elevate your networking game. Perfect your elevator pitch and implement a thoughtful follow-up strategy with the GIVE, GIVE, GIVE method. Remember, charisma is the fuel that propels your networking success. Embrace these tips, and whether you’re navigating job interviews, networking events, or seeking to influence others, you’ll be well-equipped to leave a lasting impression.
