The holidays are here – a time for reconnecting and strengthening bonds with family and friends, a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next, and of course, a great time for networking. Here are a few helpful tips for the holiday season.
Carry your networking tools.
During the entire year, but especially during this busy social time of the holidays, you need to be prepared for a potential networking interaction. It is important to have two items with you at all times – business cards and a pen. The reason for this should be very obvious, however it is amazing to me to see how often I am involved in a potential networking discussion with a person who did not bring a business card.
Everyone should carry a business card to easily provide their contact information. Scraps of paper and napkins with scribble on them are more likely to find their way to the wastepaper basket or the laundry room than to someone’s filing system.
Business cards can also be used to scribble down information in a pinch. After writing on the back of one of your business cards, be sure to cross out the front so that you don’t accidentally hand out that card to the next person you speak with.
Also, when you receive another person’s business card, remember to write down notes on the back after the conversation. I have learned that no matter how many times I try to remember specifics about a particular discussion, I find myself staring blankly at someone’s business card a few months down the road, not remembering why I have it or how I met the person. Writing down a note or two about the personal aspect of the conversation also helps you remember the person better and serves as a cue for helping the person remember you if you need to contact them at a later time. They will also be impressed or flattered that you remember the discussion that you had about their fishing trip or antique clock collecting hobby when you speak with them.
