Lara Nieberding

(Yes! I know I can’t sing. My apologies to Steam)

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 143

*

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

*

Which quote: “End with the Future In Mind.”

*

How this quote adjusted my thinking:

Talk about being clueless.  I had no idea there was a formality to saying good bye.  If you have ever been to an event with me and I forgot to say good bye formally, please accept my apology.  It truly was an oversight.  Typically, I would not end a conversation with a good bye because I am thinking I should wait until the end of the event.  If I am leaving independent of a group, it is easy to just revisit people and say good bye.  If everyone in attendance is leaving at the same time, it is easy to wish everyone well as you move out of the event.  Where my technique fails me is if a I join a group of people who are leaving while others are still milling about.  I tend to get caught up in the moment and forget to say good bye to people who are not leaving yet.

Now, maybe this does not seem significant.  However, I actually saw the scenario play out in front of me.  When I arrived at this particular networking event, Precious and Treat were already talking. They welcomed me to their conversation.  At this networking event, Treat knows everyone in the room – well.  After greeting each other, Treat gracefully excuses herself to talk to another cluster of networkers.  Precious and I engage in a conversation, then someone else joined and Precious moved to another group of networkers.  The event lasted about two hours.  Towards the end, Precious noticed I had a moment to myself, she approaches me saying,

“Did Treat leave?”

“I don’t know.” I say starting to look around the room.

“Well..” Precious looks around the room too. “I think she left.”

“Did you need her for something?” I ask Precious.

“No. I wanted to say good bye.”  Precious is still scanning the room for Treat.  I see networkers leaving in little batches.

“Maybe she did leave.” I am not really sure what to say.

“She didn’t say good bye.  I wonder why she would leave like that…without saying good bye.”  Precious looks resigned.

“She might have gotten distracted by the group she left with.” I say trying to be conciliatory and helpful.

Precious shrugs and walks away.

I have been in the position of both Precious and Treat.  Seeing it from the filter of having read “Make Your Contacts Count” I see the value in knowing a few different formal ways to say good bye.