Laura Maurer’s Post

Networking is a skill that takes practice. I’ve had people tell me I’m a natural at meeting new people. What they don’t realize is that I developed my networking skills over the years. If you’re new to networking, try these ice-breakers to start conversations: 1. Share a sincere compliment about the person. 2. Practice making eye contact, shaking hands, and saying, “Hi, I’m Romi. Nice to meet you!” 3. If they have a name tag, greet them by name. BONUS: If you’re uncomfortable in networking events, try using these ice-breakers at the grocery store the next time you go shopping. EXTRA BONUS: A selfie photo/video is a great way to follow up with the connections you made. See video and tags for example. Event by Metro EDGE hosted by Madeline Barbour & Savannah Fox. PS great seeing you Desireé, Francesca, Vanessa, Robert, santosh! Madeline, let me know when you organize the white water rafting trip 😂 Desireé, can you share your books recommendations again?

Networking is not just bombarding people in DMs It’s about *mutual* help, generosity, and genuine interest. It's about organizing meet-ups and events yourself. It's about asking yourself: "How can I help this person?" instead of "How can this person be useful to me?". Here are 4 great books about networking. They are inspiring, easy to read, and most importantly, easy to apply in real life. "Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time" by Keith Ferrazzi → Tip: Make a habit of reaching out to connect with people. Schedule regular lunch or coffee meetings and never eat alone. Use these opportunities to build and strengthen relationships. "The Networking Book: 50 Ways to Develop Strategic Relationships" by Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps → Tip: When attending networking events, set a goal to help others first. By focusing on how you can assist others, you naturally build trust and a reputation as a valuable connector. "Networking Is Not Working: Stop Collecting Business Cards and Start Making Meaningful Connections" by Derek Coburn → Tip: Host small, exclusive events where you can introduce your connections to each other. This approach creates deeper relationships and positions you as a valuable hub in your network. "The Art of Networking: Beyond the Handshake" by Mia Hall → Tip: Follow up after initial meetings with a personalized message. Mention something specific you discussed to show genuine interest and reinforce the connection. Which resources would you add? Let’s make the list bigger 👾

The Power of Networking: Insights from the book “Never Eat Alone” 📚🤝" In the book "Never Eat Alone," author Keith Ferrazzi shares valuable insights on the importance of networking and building meaningful relationships. 🌟 One key takeaway is the idea that success is not just about what you know but also about who you know. By nurturing genuine connections with others, we can open doors to new opportunities and growth. 🌱 For example, Ferrazzi recounts how a chance encounter at a networking event led to a game-changing partnership for his business, showcasing the power of networking in action. 🌟 Ferrazzi emphasizes the impact of networking in both professional and personal life, highlighting how simple acts like sharing a meal can lead to valuable connections and collaborations. 🍽️ Imagine sitting down for lunch with a colleague you've been wanting to connect with and discovering shared interests that spark a new project or partnership. That's the power of building relationships over a meal. 🥗 The book encourages readers to step out of their comfort zones, be proactive in networking, and offer help to others without expecting immediate returns. It's a reminder that networking is a two-way street based on trust and mutual benefit. 🚶♂️🚶♀️ Overall, "Never Eat Alone" serves as a guide to building a strong network, fostering meaningful relationships, and ultimately, achieving success through the power of connections. 🤝💼 So why dine alone when you can leverage the power of networking to create opportunities and enrich your life? Let this book inspire you to start cultivating valuable connections today! 🌟📚

Networking - excited about the prospect or cringing at the very thought? I used to muster up the courage to attend these events (I knew networking was a good thing to do), take a deep breath to calm myself before I went in, put on my game face, my most welcoming smile - and head over to the first familiar face in the room. If I was feeling really brave I'd move towards a group of people I didn't know, hoping they'd include me in their conversation. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. And my confidence was so fragile that it didn't take much to feel deflated and walk away determinedly pretending I had an important call to make. There's lots of great advice out there about how to make networking work for you (check out Ajay Mistry ACMA on this. He's a master!) Over the years, one of the main things that changed for me was my mindset. This wasn't about networking, but about building relationships. I took the pressure off myself and felt better about creating something that was two way. It wasn't just about me building a network, but about creating a relationship where I could give and not expect anything in return. Sometimes that led to an ongoing business relationship, sometimes it didn't - and that's fine. I'd be interested to hear about your networking journey. What advice or thoughts would you share with others?

Looking to get some ideas for being more effective with your business networking? If so, check out my LinkedIn post with a link to my blog post on this important topic.

Do you feel like, totally awkward in those networking events? Do you ever find yourself just standing in the corner while holding a drink, pretending to look busy? I know I have!! But don't worry, you're not alone. I've got a strategy that will help you navigate them with ease. Here's a little acronym I use: PAGE (Place, Activity, Goal, Exit). Let me walk you through it: ➜ 1. Place: Start by asking about the location. "Have you ever been to Vegas before?" It's a simple way to break the ice and get the conversation flowing. ➜ 2. Activity: Move on to activities. "Have you enjoyed any of the keynotes so far?" This keeps the conversation relevant and engaging. ➜ 3. Goal: Ask about their goals. "Do you have any goals for the week or are you just here for a good time?" This shows genuine interest and can lead to meaningful discussions. ➜ 4. Exit: Know when and how to exit gracefully. "Well if you'll excuse me, I have to go meet my coworker. But it was great to meet you Dave, I'll see you around." Bonus Tips: ➜ Be genuinely interested. ➜ Listen more than you talk. ➜ Don't be afraid to end the conversation when it's run its course. Remember, networking is about building connections, not just collecting business cards. You got this! PS: Follow for more tips on mastering the art of networking and building authentic connections.

𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐬 - 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! Ever wondered how to build business relationships when networking isn’t your thing or you don’t have the time you think it takes? 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞-𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝? 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 - 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫? We all know how important it is to meet new people BUT attending a networking meeting is 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 1    The magic of collaborations happens outside the networking room and the biggest issue is to prioritise the follow up work! 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 2,3,4 do not even have a chance when we don't find time to start a conversation AFTER the event. 𝐒𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬? If we 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 - we actually connect with a like-minded community who get us! 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟 – 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.   And if you don't network efficiently what opportunities are you missing out on with collaborations? 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧 2024? I invite you to join me today at 1pm for 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Stop wasting time with networking and instead make meaningful connections! Networking designed especially for Busy Business Mums - if you're an introvert, don't worry so am I! 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘵! Check the link in the comments and register (for FREE) before 1 pm (UK time) Join the fun and be part of some AMAZING conversations 💗 #mumsinbusiness #womensupportingwomen #networkingevents

Myth: Networking is about you getting something. Reality: Networking is about them getting something. If you’re a people pleaser, you’ve probably hated the idea of networking because you’re afraid of taking up someone else’s space without their permission. So many of my clients start here. But they become networking ninjas at lightning speed because they internalize this belief: I bring value to every conversation I’m in. Networking isn’t about you. It’s about giving someone new the opportunity to know you. - It’s about building a new relationship that will help them as much as it’s going to help you. - It’s about striking up a conversation with someone where you’re going to give them space to talk about themselves. So if you want to get out of your own way with networking, start with the belief that you’re a valuable person to know. With that power, you’ll attract, not detract. P.S. If you’re ready to make networking your superpower, I’ve got you! I spend my days helping my amazing clients hone their positioning so they can maximize their networking efforts and get their foot in the door. Follow along here for more valuable guidance!

Is networking worth the effort? 🤔 I've pondered this question more times than I can count, and truth be told, I've had my doubts along the way. I’ve stopped and started networking a few times over the years. But the thing is: Networking does work. I've seen it first hand. Back in the early days of networking, it drove a whopping 80% of our business. So why the hesitation? It all boils down to one thing: effort. Networking isn't just about showing up and handing out business cards. It's about forging genuine connections – those one-on-one conversations that leave a lasting impression. It's about learning what others do and how you can help them. It's about being present, helpful, and, above all, a good listener. No one enjoys it when someone does a mini keynote when they should be doing their 60 second pitch. 😴 When I invest the time and energy into these meaningful interactions, that's when networking truly pays off. Sure, you can breeze in, deliver your elevator pitch, and make a swift exit. But where's the value in that? So here's my takeaway: Schedule those one-on-one meetings, get to know your fellow networkers, make meaningful referrals, and always remember: You reap what you sow in the world of networking. 🌟

The Networking 'Hangover' You Didn't Know You Had (And How to Cure It) 🤕🥂 We've all been there. You attend a networking event, armed with a stack of business cards and a dazzling smile. 😊 You chat with dozens of people, exchange pleasantries, and maybe even score a few leads. But then... crickets. 🦗 The follow-ups fizzle out. 😩 The promised connections lead nowhere. 💔 You're left with a stack of business cards and a vague sense of disappointment. That, my friend, is the dreaded networking hangover. 🛑 The Problem: You're mistaking quantity for quality. 🧮 It's not about how many hands you shake, but the depth of the connections you make. 🤝 💥 The Agitation: This shallow approach leaves you feeling exhausted, disillusioned, and wondering if networking is even worth it. It's like drinking cheap champagne - lots of bubbles, but no real substance. 🍾 🔥 The Solution: It's time to ditch the networking hangover and embrace a more strategic approach. 💪 ✅ Target your ideal connections. Don't just collect business cards; seek out individuals who align with your goals and values. 🎯 ✅ Offer value first. Become a resource, not just a taker. Share your expertise, offer support, and show genuine interest in others. 🎁 ✅ Nurture relationships over time. Networking isn't a one-night stand. Follow up, stay connected, and build trust. 🌱 ✅ Be authentic and approachable. People do business with people they like and trust. Let your personality shine through. ✨ ✅ Leverage Technology: Use LinkedIn and other tools to stay organized and maintain relationships. 💻 Remember, networking is about building a supportive community, not just collecting contacts. By focusing on quality over quantity, you'll turn those fleeting connections into lasting relationships that fuel your business growth. 🚀