Lara Nieberding

Who recommended: Lynne Waymon

What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon

Where in the book: page 80

Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!

Which quote: “Avoid the top twenty turn-offs: Don’t Hide. Some people, not wanting to appear self-centered, never tell you anything about themselves.”

How this quote adjusted my thinking:

Guilty.  Of all the top twenty networking turn-offs, I am most guilty of hiding.  In a one on one conversation, I will share enough information to keep the conversation going.  However, the other person will always have shared more.  If I am in a group conversation, it is possible for people to walk away without having learned anything about me.

I had an interesting experience lately.  I went to dinner with a group of colleagues.  Now, mind you, I have read this book.  I am trying to be very aware of my interactions.  I am doing my best to make networking natural.  I do not want it to look like I am forcing myself to do this.  I want to be comfortable.  Dinner begins and I am listening, asking questions and sharing about me, too.  I am actually having a good time and I feel relaxed.

Then just before dessert, the conversation is flying… the wine has been flowing for my colleagues, the laughs are loud and the rhetoric is quick. “I am a Gemini” says one colleague and another jumps in “OH! me too!” responds another…the whole table is giggling and swapping humorous anecdotes. Then, the person across from me says, “Lara, what is your sign?”  “I am a Capricorn.”  “I KNEW IT!” Yells the person across from me.  The whole table erupts in boisterous chatter.  They described how I was just sitting back, taking it all in, watching everyone.

Uh…so much for new networking skills.