Annual Meeting Networking Tips: How to Approach Senior Level Professionals
Claire Kittle Dixon is the executive director at Talent Market
State Policy Network’s 26th Annual Meeting is just around the corner, and I bet your palms are already sweating as you think about how to mingle with senior leaders, board members, VIPS, and other movers and shakers.
Fear not! Here are five tips that will make networking with senior-level professionals a breeze.
As you can imagine, VIPs, executives, and influencers are incredibly busy at the Annual Meeting. So, if you want to connect with someone, you’ll need to make the first move. That means proactively approaching the person and introducing yourself. Sound awkward? It won’t be if you’re prepared. See tip #2!
If there is someone you want to connect with at the meeting, do your homework in advance. Read the person’s bio and LinkedIn profile to get a good understanding of his/her background and interests. Not only will this provide needed context for a productive conversation, but it will also generate plenty of fodder for an ice-breaker.
For instance, if you wanted to connect with me, your research would tell you that I went to Notre Dame. So, you could introduce yourself and then shout out a gratuitous “GO IRISH!” That would instantly make us best friends and the rest would be easy. For less adventurous types, a simple comment about the person’s work will suffice. “Hello, Claire. I admire Talent Market’s work and just wanted to introduce myself.” It’s just that easy!
Because senior leaders and other professionals have such overbooked dance cards, you’ll want to be respectful of their time. The key item is making the connection: introduce yourself, have a brief conversation, and set the stage for future communication. You don’t need to have an hour-long dialog there if you can just as easily arrange a phone call later. And whatever you do, don’t attempt to corner someone in a networking function and hold them against their will. If you notice the person’s eyes darting around looking for an escape route, you’ve talked too much and need to set them free!
Even if you only spend five minutes talking to someone or asking advice, be sure to thank the person. Tell him/her it was great to connect and that you’d like to stay in touch. Offer your business card and ask for one in return. Don’t forget to follow-up via email after the meeting and thank them again.
SPN’s Annual Meeting is arguably the best networking event of the year — but your networking doesn’t have to feel like work! That means your conversations don’t have to revolve around the intricacies of tax policy or the long-term consequences of Janus. They can be fun! One of my most memorable networking conversations at Annual Meeting was with a gal who told me about her family’s rescue dogs. She had learned I had a rescue dog, so she used that as our conversation-starter. Because our interaction was personal, it stuck with me. As a result, I’ll always remember Dana…not to mention Winky and Abby (the dogs!).
Hopefully this advice helps prep you for this year’s Annual Meeting! See you in Salt Lake City!
Claire Kittle Dixon is the executive director at Talent Market.
