Walking into business events on your own can feel intimidating, even for those that do it often. It’s all about the right mindset and preparation. We believe confidence is all about being authentic and curious.
Here are the DayOne top 5 tips on how to achieve high levels of confidence at networking events:
1. Know your purpose
Before you arrive, clarify what you hope to gain from the event. Such as, are you scouting for potential clients or looking for mentorship? Maybe you are hoping to connect with other people in your sector to collaborate with? Or even simply aiming to learn more about your industry? Setting clear goals helps you to focus your conversations and ensures you leave the event feeling accomplished.
2. You only get 7 seconds to make a good impression
When meeting people at these events, the first question you get asked is, ‘what do you do?’ Try preparing a short, but meaningful statement, about your job/role beforehand, this can really help. Spend time crafting a 30-second introduction that highlights who you are, what you do and why you do it. Ensure to keep it engaging, enthusiastic and personable.
3. Ask thoughtful questions
Ask questions about their work, goals, and challenges. When you show a genuine interest, you’ll find that conversations flow naturally, and you’ll be remembered as approachable and attentive. Take it as an opportunity to learn something new about a different sector of your industry. Alternatively, you may learn about other businesses altogether, you never know who you might need in the future. Try not to focus solely on how to talk about yourself and shift your attention to the people you meet. Aim to learn more about them both personally and professionally.
4. Follow up and nurture relationships
Make sure to take your own business cards to hand out to the people you meet at the event. However, it is equally important that you also collect business cards from those you have had a good conversation with and reach out after the event is over. A great way to solidify a connection is to connect with them on Linkedin whilst you are still at the event. Following that, take the time to send a personal email or LinkedIn message to those you connected with in the following week. You could say thank you if they provided a talk at the event or reference something you discussed to demonstrate that you were truly listening. This small step can make all the difference the next time you reconnect with the people you now know.
5. It’s also about the other 95%
Did you know that, on average, only about 5% of people at a networking event are likely to be your ideal client right now? That means the other 95% may not be immediate prospects, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable. Many could become future clients, collaborators, or powerful advocates for your work. People change roles, launch new ventures, or have connections of their own they’re happy to recommend you to. If you’ve taken the time to build a genuine relationship and leave a lasting impression, you’ll be front of mind when the opportunity arises, even if it’s months or years down the line.
Ultimately, confidence at events is not about dominating conversations, but about creating space for others to share, as well as portraying yourself as a thoughtful and reliable contact. Every interaction is an opportunity to expand your network in ways you might not yet foresee. Don’t allow a lack of confidence to hold you back, the more events you attend, the easier it becomes and therefore the more chances you create for yourself. Trust in your knowledge, your work, your preparation and go for it. You never know what doors a single conversation might open.
