Vital things to say about yourself during networking

This post came out from The Straits Times (4 July 2015)
Title - Telling your own story

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Crafting your own story
2. Identify and qualify

On Crafting your own story

• Begin by deciding how you want to appear to others. When people first meet you, who do you want them to see you as?
• Your short story is a kind of elevator speech - a personal introduction that lasts about 30 seconds. It informs a person about your knowledge, skills and accomplishments in a very short time. In other words, you provide just enough information to get the person interested in learning more about you.
• That was just the introduction. Beyond that, you would need a detailed version of your story to relate as you move deeper into the conversation. You also need to prepare questions to ask the other person.
• For the purpose of networking, your elevator story should communicate your passion and the value that you have to offer others.

On Identify and qualify

• Who do you want to have in your network? You need to identify these individuals and go out and find them.
• A good place to start is by listing the people who are already in your network. Next, list the kinds of people you want to connect with - by profession, occupation or industry. Be sure to include power players and influencers in your list. These are people who have strong networks, so knowing them would bring you a great deal of benefits. 
• Once you locate your target prospects for the purpose of networking, create an opportunity. Decide on a day when you will attend a networking event and mark that date on your calendar.
• Before you attend the actual event, try to find out who will be present. This helps you identify exactly who you are going to meet and allows you to prepare your story and questions accordingly. 
• If you are prepared, you will not be caught off-guard and your responses will be valuable in building a strong connection. You should know about the people whom you will be speaking to because it shows you are interested and that you did your homework. Of course, it is likely o impress the other party.
• After you have prepared your conversation questions and answers, practice with a friend or associate. Adequate preparation will ensure that you stay focused, so that your networking efforts will be worthwhile and productive. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big