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Use The Force, Top Ten Networking Tips

***Want more networking tips? Join us at the Networking 101 section next Tuesday, 9/10 at our GovLoop Virtual Innovators Summit – free rsvp****

This post comes from top tweets made during a recent session “Overview and In depth Conversations: Networking from the Light Side of the Force,” a Star Wars themed talk on networking by Andrew Foxwell and Dave Uejio. The top tweeters were @mclawyer, @RyanJSegrist, and @kellynaber – if you like this post, thank them!

1.) win by having great conversations with genuine intent, not collecting business cards.

2.) everyone knows at least one good story – theirs.

3.) questions are the key to networking. ask softballs – you’re not journalists so you don’t have to challenge everyone with your questions.

4.) networking – go as a team and you can rewire the energy of the room. adopt someone you just met as your wing for the next conversation. invite people into your discussion circle if you see people awkwardly lingering while networking, say “everyone, this is Billy.”

5.) conserve your energy by changing the room dynamic to the light side. It’s less work to network when the energy is positive. putting out positive energy is way more memorable and valuable than another person complaining about their job.

6.) intermix the personal and professional – you’re there to get to know people as people.

7.) work on connecting people to each other. everyone likes it when you connect good people together.

8.) say good things to others about the people you’ve met.

9.) let your network know you’re thinking about them- forward relevant articles, tweet about how great it was to meet them

10.) great networking follow up – toss a tweet. follow up with people after networking, make it worthwhile, set up another chance to meet

What are some of your favorite networking tips?

***Want more networking tips? Join us at the Networking 101 section next Tuesday, 9/10 at our GovLoop Virtual Innovators Summit – free rsvp****

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