Topaz Sales Consultant Whit Anderson recently attended the Charles County Chamber of Commerce monthly networking mixer. With just two minutes per conversation, she practiced a skill that stands out in any crowded room: being a Buyer Facilitator.
When the assignment is for everyone to deliver elevator pitches, briefly introduce yourself, then get infinitely curious. Ask the other person a thoughtful question and give them room to answer. People won’t forget your introduction, and they won’t forget how you made them feel after you handed off the microphone.
Standout Intro vs. Elevator Pitch
The biggest difference she noticed was that an elevator pitch tends to focus on telling people what you do, while a standout introduction creates just enough curiosity to begin a conversation. It highlights how she helps clients in a way that piques interest.
Rather than using two minutes to talk about herself or Topaz, she could briefly establish who she helps and how, then turn the conversation back to the other person: “What about yourself?” This created more opportunity to ask questions, listen, and determine whether there was a meaningful reason to continue the conversation beyond the networking event.
Whit’s Top 3 Takeaways
1. Be infinitely curious.
Networking isn’t about pitching to as many people as possible. Be genuinely curious about the person in front of you. Ask questions, listen, and uncover whether there is enough alignment or value to warrant continuing the conversation beyond the event.
2. Work the room with intention.
Not every conversation needs to become a 20-minute conversation. The goal is to determine whether it makes sense to connect again. If it does, establish a next step. If it doesn’t, politely close the conversation and continue meeting others. Being intentional with your time allows you to create more meaningful connections throughout the room.
3. Be purposeful about exchanging business cards.
Don’t give your card or collect someone else’s simply because it is expected. Exchange information when there is a genuine reason to continue the conversation. Otherwise, you may unintentionally create false expectations or find yourself added to an email campaign you never intended to join.
Remember, networking events aren’t about landing clients on the spot. They’re about determining whether there’s enough mutual value to continue the conversation beyond the event and explore an opportunity that aligns with you, your company, and ultimately, what’s best for your clients.
Once you shift your mindset from finding opportunities to meeting people, networking becomes far more effective. You’ll be amazed at how spending the right amount of quality time with each person allows you to create more quantity in your conversations and ultimately uncover better opportunities.
