Body Language Counts!

Why communication through body language andappropriate language are crucial to networking success?

I know most people take quick note of someone that has an attitude. By that we mean that they look belligerent, like know-it-alls, and their ego hangs out like a sore thumb. This is not the person you generally want to do business with. That goes for language as well: you do not want to hang with someone that is negative, always plays the victim and always is whining about one thing or another. The fact that body language can work for you if you take time to listen to others is really important. The act of listening changes your body language almost immediately.

So that you can understand what the other person is saying, you change from aggressive mode to passive mode. This type of body language makes others receptive to you, and they will want to tell their story to you. However, when others want to tell their story, it is important that you gently nudge them in the right direction. You want them to tell you about their business pain, or what is not right with their company. It is through analyzing what they are saying that you will gain bigger insights as to what needs to be remedied, how you can help them with that part of their business. After all, you are at the event to pick up solid leads that will give you both profit and relationships that will last for quite some time.

What about language? The kind of language you should be using is: "Will you?", "Have you considered?", "I'll find out how I can help", "I know someone that?", even reiterating what they just said is good.

You have now practiced and rehearsed, done the dress rehearsal, filmed yourself, done the critique, worked with your director (yourself) and you have finally perfected the pitch. It is now time to try it on a live audience with real people. The first thing is to make sure that what you are pitching is appropriate for the audience at the event you have chosen to attend.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://BlueprintBooks.com