Sorry, who are you again?

Why networking intros are ultimately forgettable

If you’ve ever sat at a networking event where everyone has been asked to introduce themselves, you’ve probably had a pretty awful time. From the one who tries to pitch all their latest products, to the one who rambles on and leaves you none the wiser, you’ve probably been bored, confused and – lets face it – pretty irritated at times.  But when it comes to your turn how do you fare?

Keeping it brief is great advice, but is it enough? We aim for a slick response, maybe keep it to our name, a job title and maybe, one line of ‘here’s how I help people’, but in the end the result is still as unmemorable as your business card (sorry we’re not keen on those either). Many who achieve this level of brevity also tell me that these introductions are fairly pointless. They know the connection starts in the conversation and are keen to move on.

But here’s something we don’t always talk about – because if you can’t give all the information in the introduction, and the connection is in the conversation – how often do the conversations not begin because that introduction never invited the conversation in the first place?

Get them listening from the off

Here’s what most people miss when they’re networking – they don’t say anything that makes them stand out. Two accountants in a room or two spiritual healers, it makes little difference if the title sounds the same. Yet, standing out isn’t about a tweak to your services, or using all the buzz words, it’s about bringing more of yourself to the room. Dropping the  ‘empower’ ‘authentic’ and ‘ultimate experience’ and be brave enough to use the language your clients actually hear from you (perhaps minus a few of the juicier ones if you must). 

Most introductions start with a name, but the problem is that nobody listens without a reason, so names are forgotten. So, switch it up and give them a reason first.

Ask a question that your closest clients would have said “yes” to which you’ve already helped turn into a happy “no”. – example: “Does your overflowing inbox leave you worried that you’ve missed that important deal?”

OR

Tell them what’s exciting you – example: “I’m going to start by sharing something – today I had a call from a client saying they’d received a record number of calls last week, and their overhauled website only went live the previous Friday”

This works because once they’ve heard their problem out loud, that’s when they listen closely to your name and remember it. And because you chose to say something that you were genuinely excited about, your personality will have shone through. It’s no longer the thing you do, it’s the thing you care about – and the conversation starter you needed.

Final thought

Introductions should never be your life story, but they do need to say something new to whoever is listening. The clearer you are on what you really offer as a person, or company, and what makes you stand out, the more effective your introductions can be.

Looking for help with your elevator pitch?

I offer 1 to 1, hour long sessions where we work on understanding what makes you unique, and how you can share that, in your own words.

Book direct online here https://softlyinspired.co.uk/elevator/

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