01 Aug How’s your biscuit? – on networking and ‘putting yourself out there.’
We all have those days when we just can’t be bothered. I had one a few months ago. I was booked in to attend a conference with a friend. Unfortunately, at the last minute, she pulled out. Without the motivation of that commitment and with a long “to do list” burning up in my back pocket, I had lots of reasons to skip the conference. Plus, I really didn’t feel like going! As it turned out, I’m so glad I went!
With a little internal persuasion, I agreed that the best decision was to go along. Furthermore, the conference topic was on Culture – and would inform a current project I was working on. The morning session lived up to expectations. I was even enjoying the various speakers, until an announcement: …. a HALF AN HOUR MORNING TEA BREAK!!!
(Gasp.) Thoughts rushing through my brain: “What? Half an hour!!?? Who needs half an hour for morning tea?” And ‘What am I going to do for all that time?”
With so much work to do, I didn’t want to waste a precious half an hour.
I realised I had three choices:
- Find a quiet place to make some calls/texts.
- Leave – as I had already had a great morning.
- Face the less palatable option and muster all my energy and courage to go and introduce myself to someone; a stranger: and do some networking.
I took on the third choice, and most challenging option!
‘Ok, here goes’ I said to myself and took in a deep breath. I looked around the conference morning tea area where delegates were milling. Some were chatting, some were alone, some were on their phones! I spotted a well-dressed unassuming lady leaning against a table eating a biscuit and decided to approach her. She became my opportunity. So, I casually meandered over, noticing she was eating something and asked:
“How’s the biscuit?”
“A bit hard” she said, with a smile.
I told her I thought it probably had too much sugar in it. She laughed. As did I. The conversation took on a life of its own and we hit it off. We shared our respective work specialities and the half hour flew by – all too quickly.
In the background as the bell sounded reminding the delegates to reassemble, she turned to me and said, “Trina, I really like you! I think it would be great to work with you. Does it suit to catch up later in the week to see what we can work on together?”
The biscuit eating lady then proceeded to hand me her business card. It turned out that this particular biscuit eating lady was the Head of Learning and Development for a government department and was looking for someone like me to help out with some team development work she was embarking on.
In retrospect, I am so glad that I got myself out of my comfort zone that morning and acted professionally, despite how I was feeling.
So please, be on the look-out for those opportunities. You just never know what doors can open for you if you put yourself out there and make the effort – even from the little things.