March / April 2009
A “How To” ezine of practical strategies and inspiration to help professionals communicate with ease and authenticity every time they speak. Published by Geraldine Barkworth every 2 months & emailed to confidential subscriber lists. Average read: 3 minutes.
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What’s New
• Need to calm speaking nerves? Visit my website and download the free MP3 recording of the Inner Calm relaxation exercise (12 minutes). http://www.coolcalmconnect.com.au
• Want to learn how you can benefit from the Cool, Calm & Connected communication technique? Download two, 1.5 minute video interviews with Geraldine Barkworth, Chief Speaking Officer, CCC.
“How To Talk In Difficult Places: After Hours Networking”
Article 2 of 6 in the 2009 theme of “How To Talk In Difficult Places”.
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The Simple Solution
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Un-networking
The art of being genuinely interested in meeting new people with no expectations of selling them something.
Un-networking is a brilliant solution for those born under the constellation of “Socially Awkward But Need to Get Out & Promote Themselves.”
Step 1: Identify possible valuable benefits to attending the After Hours Event.
Yes, Possible Benefits:
• I need new clients and new ideas.
• I could learn something from the speaker.
• The cheese chunks are more nutritious than anything I’ve got at home.
No Perceivable Benefits:
• So don’t go.
Step 2: If “YES, Possible Benefits”
Proceed with an open heart to the After Hours Event. Be aware of the Possible Benefit to you and then let go of the expectation that you will receive it. Yes, I know, that’s the tricky bit. But if it were easy, we’d all be sitting on top of a white cloud with lots of dark chocolate.
Step 3: How To Let Go Of Expectations Script
(Say to yourself) “… My purpose in attending this event is because I need…(fill in the Benefit you are after.) However, the outcome, whatever it may be, is beyond my control. So I’m just going to show up, be myself and see what happens. And I can choose to leave whenever I want.”
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Enough Talk, Let's Get Practical
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Step 4: How To Be Yourself
Trickier than it sounds for our self-conscious, time-poor western society. This is an affliction affecting up to 50% of the population. Read the upcoming May / June issue, “How To Talk In Difficult Places…Being Yourself at Parties”.
Step 5: Your Arrival
Take a deep breath, ground yourself and look around. Where is there movement and energy? Where are the awkward places? And most importantly, where is the food? Walk determinedly in your chosen direction. Frequently the best place for meaningful connection with new people is in the kitchen or by the carrot sticks.
Step 6: The Business Card Swapping Ceremony – Do’s & Don’ts
Do try either of these:
- 1. Upon initial introduction, immediately offer your card. Politely ask if you may receive one of theirs in return. The beauty of this ceremony is that it immediately generates conversation – “Oh that‘s an interesting business logo, what’s the story behind it?” and so on. It also means you won’t forget peoples’ names thirty seconds after they’ve just told you.
- 2. If after chatting for a while, you decide that this is a person you’d like to get to know, as a buyer, seller or friend, either offer one of your cards or ask if you can have one of their cards. Generally, if you accept someone else’s card, I believe it is good manners to offer one of your own. This creates a balance of mutual giving and receiving.
Do not try either of these:
- 1. Simply “plonk” your card in front of people to whom you are not currently conversing and then buzz off, distributing them like poison pollen.
- 2. Accept a card and immediately stuff it in your bag without looking at it. The Japanese believe the card personally represents you and as such, should be treated with the appearance of respect. Many of us feel the same way.
Step 7: Make New Friends, Connections And Business:
After all that effort to attend the After Hours Event, cocktail party, business breakfast or general smoozing, you might as well take it all the way. Write where and when you met the person on their card. If you enjoyed talking and made an offer, such as sending them some information, then phone or email them within 24 hours or so.
Frequently, your thoughtful and genuine follow up email or phone call makes attending the After Hours Event very worthwhile. You just never know what interesting opportunities, ideas and people are out there.
But if you never go, you’ll never know..
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© 2009, Geraldine Barkworth. Reprintable when full credit is given and the whole newsletter is reproduced.
For more information about services including private coaching, corporate training or to make a media enquiry, please contact Geraldine Barkworth directly on +61 (2) 6685 1917 or email geraldine@coolcalmconnect.com.au
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please email office@coolcalmconnect.com.au with your request.
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