10 tips for Making Small Talk and Networking

Your business, especially if it's a consulting business, is totally dependent on your personal skills. If you're a likable person, you're way ahead of the game. Unfortunately, even the nicest and most interesting folks in the game are terrible at socializing in business events. Here are some rules I've developed over my 30 years of consulting.

1. Don't sell anything unless asked to. You're there to socialize and sell folks on how nice, clean, well-mannered and interesting you are. If you pass this test, you'll be asked what you do and maybe, later, asked for a more formal pitch. So save the elevator pitch until after you've impressed them with swell-ness and are asked for it.

2. For heaven's sake, don't play the totally cool thing and show up in shorts and a t-shirt. That may go very well with some, but for others, it's a deal breaker. Don't risk it. No one ever said they'd rather not call the well-dressed, manicured and neat guy or gal.

3. Turn off the cell phone and put the damned thing away. You're not in middle school, you're there to socialize. Picking up a cell phone and texting or reading a text pretty much tells the person you're talking to that what you have in your palm is more important than they are.

4. Do ask everyone what they do, where they live or anything else that can create a connection or some common ground upon which conversation can be built. Compliment a watch or tie. It might have a story attached.

5. Be honest and humble. If you're there alone and see someone else standing alone, march right over and introduce yourself. Start with something like, "I saw you standing alone, as I was, and thought I should introduce myself." If you're nervous in that kind of setting, tell them. They'll warm right up.

6. Make it easy to be found. Have plenty of business cards to hand out.

7. Dress in business attire - See items #2 and #7. Check a mirror before leaving the house/office and every time you hit the restroom.

8. Offer to help anyone you can with no expectations of returns. They will come.