Certified Career Coach Hallie Crawford (and introvert, I might add) of Create Your Career Path attended a recent workshop I gave on the Introvert’s Career Path to Success. In it we discussed the “giving and getting agenda.”  One of my favorite non-fluff networking books, Making Contacts Count (AMACOM, 2007) by Lynne Waymon and Anne Baber  describes this concept beautifully.

Check out Hallie’s views on this topic in her  brief video, Stop Talking Business at Networking Events. She also summarized her thoughts on her  blog (which is full of  practical tips).

We  had coffee after the program to learn more about each other.  Hallie is living her career dream and guiding others do the same. She showed a true interest in learning more about my speaking, coaching and writing on IL’s(Introverted Leaders).  The cool thing? We already are supporting each other in our respective businesses.  Building relationships first is truly the key – I love when this stuff works!

Applying the 4 ‘s Process to Your Job Search

Plugging into a cold network of professional and personal connections is hard. People want to know that you are interested in them from time to time, not just when you are job seeking.

So if Sam’s sibling does want to talk to me, I will suggest that he waste no time in connecting with work and professional colleagues, past and present.

I will also share three steps he can take immediately.

1) Prepare 5 questions to ask your contacts on your phone meetings. Show genuine interest in their challenges and successes. It is not all about you. How can you demonstrate knowledge and competence and learn as much as you can in your networking meetings?

2) Study names and use them. Repeat them at least 5 times ( saying it in your head is fine!)

3) When you attend networking events,  follow the advice of a wise introverted networker, He says ” I tell myself I can do anything for 30 minutes!”

And if Sam’s brother doesn’t want to meet with me, that’s okay. I can go ahead and follow my own advice.

 ”I was always fine making a presentation in front of a crowd, but when I tried to mingle afterward, it felt like someone was sticking their hand down into my stomach and tying it in a knot,” says Goodyear, 53.

Note: Bob and I discussed his upcoming trip to Australia and some techniques he could use.  He pushed himself and had great results. Here is another excerpt from the article. 

“Last September, on a business trip toAustralia, Goodyear decided to get over his fear of making the first move. “I knew there would be a social function after my speech, and I was nervous about mingling in a room full of people I’d never met,” says Goodyear.

Rather than panicking, Goodyear got busy preparing. “I researched all the companies that would be represented at this event so that when I saw the company names on the guest’s name tags, I had a piece of information about their firm to use as a conversation starter,” he says…” 

Read more! : http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/21/social-anxiety-networking-entrepreneurs-sales-marketing-networking.html