mitted to doing, and there needs to be
follow-up. Each meeting should start
with the follow-up from the previous
meeting. Social pressure to complete
tasks tends to be very effective. Use it
to your advantage.
It is estimated that $37 billion each
year is spent on unproductive meet-
ings. Ensure that you're doing every-
thing you can to avoid being part of
that statistic.
Rhonda Scharf is a certified speaking
professional and president of ON THE RIGHT
TRACK Training & Consulting.
www.on-the-right-track.com
Networking: Not a sales pitch
By Julie Blais Comeau
Labour Day is around the corner.
"Networking season" will soon
reopen. Your inbox will soon be filled
with invitations.
As a smart, savvy and successful
administrative professional, you know
you should say "yes," but you dread
entering a room full of strangers and
hate "pitching" … Yikes!
Time for a mind shift.
Here's what successful network
-
ers know: Networking is not about
selling. Networking is about helping.
"Who can I or a member of my net-
work help?" "How can that person or
one of their connections help me?"
Bet your stress level is coming
down now. ☺
Networking is connecting contacts
to build a net that works for you and
for this newly met person.
Here's how:
1� Have an agenda�
Find out about the host organization,
their members, the guest of honour
and invited guests. Make a list of those
you, your executive or your organiza
-
tion can help. Seek them.
2� Practice your introduction�
Use your first and last names. State
your role. Add a connection to the
activity or someone in the room. Pre-
pare something positive for "How are
you?" "We just completed our newest
project." "I am heading on vacation
next week."
3� Walk in, scout and join�
Arrive with your helping attitude.
Smile. Make eye contact. Chit-chat
with familiar faces. Walk in confi-
dently. Observe the room. Search for
a relaxed group of three. Play host to
someone solo or welcome someone
entering.
4� Converse but, more importantly,
listen�
Show interest. Ask open-ended ques-
tions: "What upcoming ventures are
you working on?" "How can our orga-
nization help?" "What kind of clients
are you looking for?"
5� Know when and how to go�
The usual meeting time is 10 minutes.
Wait for a lull. Offer your business
card, or politely excuse yourself to go
acknowledge the host, welcome a cli-
ent, meet a colleague or introduce this
person to someone else. Shake hands
and wish well.
6� Volunteer�
This is the surest way to make great
connections and meet the stars of the
event.
You are ready to network. Go to
your inbox and say "yes."
Julie Blais Comeau is Chief Etiquette Officer
at etiquettejulie.com, a firm dedicated to
teaching the interpersonal skills necessary to
professional success: client service, business
etiquette, international protocol and cultural
intelligence. She is a professional speaker,
author and media collaborator. Julie loves
to hear from readers! You have a sticky
situation? Write to julie@etiquettejulie.com
7
Administrative Assistant's
UPDATE
Julie Blais Comeau
Rhonda Scharf
Rhonda will be presenting
a webinar, Effective Team
Meetings, on Aug. 10. This
program is designed to give
you the tools you need to
conduct team meetings,
build team interaction, and
improve team dynamics.
Go to on-the-right-track.com
for details.
Credit: pixelheadphoto digitalskillet (Shutterstock)
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