In-Person Networking: A Lost Art

In this age of start-up businesses and high tech transactions, in-person networking has taken a back seat to communication through social media, email, texting and even AI.  I cannot stress enough the importance of physically getting out there and meeting people in person.  Nothing can replace the lessons learned from a certain hand gesture, a person’s tone of voice or the narrowing of one’s eyes.

I like to view meeting someone in person I have never met before like a poker game.  I am looking for “tells” that let me know if he or she is serious about our meeting goal, whether or not he or she is confident and professional and if he or she is open-minded and cooperative.  Some of these “tells” include body language, manners, a firm handshake, eye contact and the ability to listen.

Things that immediately turn me off are people with a limp handshake, a lack of manners and a habit of interrupting me while I am talking.  The worst is when they act like they are in a rush and do not have time for me.  I look to connect with people who arrive on time, have blocked out enough time for us to attain our goal and are good talkers AND listeners.  These simple tips may help you determine who you want to develop lasting relationships with and who you want to delete from your contact list.  

Ask people to meet with you at a coffee shop.  It’s extra nice if the coffee is on you.  Meet in a park in nice weather: a calming, peaceful environment is always welcome.  Be unique and meet at a museum to get the creative juices flowing, or at a co-mingling space, like Spring Church here in St. Louis.  Meeting in-person lets you truly get to know the person through indicators such as gestures, eye contact and listening ability, things that are more difficult to ascertain in virtual meetings.  So get out there in real space to get to know your contacts and clients to the max.