Objective:
- The higher the level of educational attainment a person achieves; it seems their ability to tell a person they meet socially what they do diminishes inversely. Why do highly educated people lose the ability to simplify what they do so that “Joe Public” can understand what they do?
- This simple activity invites the group to explore the development of a short verbal business card that can be used when they meet people socially or at a networking event.
Overview:
Everybody knows the situation; you are at a networking event because you have to meet potential collaborators or customers for your latest idea/research/innovation. You meet somebody and ask them what they do and they go into the most detailed description of their research in the greatest of detail. You will have lost the will to live within 30 seconds and desperately look for the toilet to allow you to make your excuses and escape.
What if that person had exactly the idea/research/innovation you needed to progress your own research etc.?
What if you were the person who had people suddenly drawn away by their bladder capacity?
You need to create as engaging a verbal business card as you have produced on paper (we all have business cards to take to meetings – don’t we? Crafting a short pithy sentence that you can speak as you share a person’s hand is a great way to break the ice and start a conversation.
It is a skill that needs to be practiced and honed . . . so the sooner you start the better.
Activity:
- You might start the session by inviting people to introduce themselves to their neighbour and to explain a little about themselves.
- You can then invite people to tell the group a little about their neighbour.
- Many won’t remember their names or any of the information that was shared . . . so why is it so hard to tell people about yourself and get them to at least remember your name?
- Share with the group the characteristics of a verbal business card. Talk about how you have to become memorable. Much like a business card, start with your name.
- When shaking a person’s hand for the first time make the handshake strong and confident. As you do this look into the other person’s eyes and say your “networking name”;
“Hello my name is Simon, Simon Brown” (insert your own name here!!)
- Emphasis on your name “Simon” and repeating it helps the person meeting you to remember your name.
- Then get the group to create their verbal business card (as per the slide)
- Two examples are given – one for more general networking, the second for those with an idea to share.
Skill Development:
I have used this activity with many academics and nascent entrepreneurs. All appreciate the practice and the tools to help them start a conversation. It is amazing how quickly (after a few embarrassing sessions of practice) the opening gambit improves and improves.
At the end of the session the participants will be able to;
- Open a conversation
- Introduce themselves
- Explain their problem or idea in simple terms
- Be prepared to listen to follow up questions.
Resources:
- Activity PowerPoint Presentation
- Post-its or similar sticky pads
- Pens