How To Beat The “I’m In A Room Full Of Strangers” Anxiety
How To Beat The “I’m In A Room Full Of Strangers” Anxiety
Here are some tips to relieve that sinking feeling in your chest, so you can walk away with your head held high by the end of the event:
Look for the white-knuckle drinker – If it is an after-hours event with drinks, the white-knuckle drinker is the person who is clenching his drink and looking as out-of-place as you feel. If it’s an event without beverages, the same principle applies. Just look for someone by themselves that looks anxious. Finding those people and introducing yourself is a great way to make an immediate friend. They appreciate that with your attention they no longer look like a loner and they will immediately warm up to you.
Ask them what brought them to the meeting/event – Once you’ve gone through the pleasantries of introductions, you can start the conversation by asking them about what brought them to the event? Are they a member of the group or a guest? If they’re a member; you can follow-up with questions like, “How long have you been a member?” or “What have you enjoyed about your membership?” If they’re a guest or a first-timer, you can pursue questions about what got them interested in coming to this particular function.
Show an interest in their favorite subject – This simply means that you should find out about them. Everyone likes to talk about themselves. Your biggest challenge may be suppressing your own desire to hog the spotlight. Express interest and curiosity in them (what they do, where they’re from, etc.) and you will walk away with a new contact for your database.
Keep your “sales hat” in the coat room – Networking events are not selling events. Avoid the urge to talk about how great your product or service is, because people will start fleeing to the bar or restroom just to get away. That being said, you should still be properly prepared for the inevitable question, “What do you do?” Have your Unique Selling Proposition ready, but present it in a way that is not overbearing or pushy. If your USP is crafted and delivered well, you will create interest. That interest can best be followed-up through an appointment scheduled after the event.
Stay open and inclusive – If you find yourself in a group of two or more and you catch someone in the corner of your eye hovering, open your stance up to the outsider. When there is an appropriate break in the conversation, you can give the newcomer a warm smile and eye contact and follow-through with an introduction and handshake. Always think of what you would like others to do for you if the roles were reversed and you can’t go wrong.
How To Beat The Im In A Room Full Of Strangers Anxiety - To learn more about this author, visit Will Turner's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Have you ever walked into a networking or business event, scanned the room, and come up empty? There’s not a single familiar face in the crowd. If you’re like most people, that’s about the time when your throat gets dry and your palms get wet.
Here are some tips to relieve that sinking feeling in your chest, so you can walk away with your head held high by the end of the event:
Look for the white-knuckle drinker – If it is an after-hours event with drinks, the white-knuckle drinker is the person who is clenching his drink and looking as out-of-place as you feel. If it’s an event without beverages, the same principle applies. Just look for someone by themselves that looks anxious. Finding those people and introducing yourself is a great way to make an immediate friend. They appreciate that with your attention they no longer look like a loner and they will immediately warm up to you.
Ask them what brought them to the meeting/event – Once you’ve gone through the pleasantries of introductions, you can start the conversation by asking them about what brought them to the event? Are they a member of the group or a guest? If they’re a member; you can follow-up with questions like, “How long have you been a member?” or “What have you enjoyed about your membership?” If they’re a guest or a first-timer, you can pursue questions about what got them interested in coming to this particular function.
Show an interest in their favorite subject – This simply means that you should find out about them. Everyone likes to talk about themselves. Your biggest challenge may be suppressing your own desire to hog the spotlight. Express interest and curiosity in them (what they do, where they’re from, etc.) and you will walk away with a new contact for your database.
Keep your “sales hat” in the coat room – Networking events are not selling events. Avoid the urge to talk about how great your product or service is, because people will start fleeing to the bar or restroom just to get away. That being said, you should still be properly prepared for the inevitable question, “What do you do?” Have your Unique Selling Proposition ready, but present it in a way that is not overbearing or pushy. If your USP is crafted and delivered well, you will create interest. That interest can best be followed-up through an appointment scheduled after the event.
Stay open and inclusive – If you find yourself in a group of two or more and you catch someone in the corner of your eye hovering, open your stance up to the outsider. When there is an appropriate break in the conversation, you can give the newcomer a warm smile and eye contact and follow-through with an introduction and handshake. Always think of what you would like others to do for you if the roles were reversed and you can’t go wrong.
How To Beat The Im In A Room Full Of Strangers Anxiety - To learn more about this author, visit Will Turner's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
John PowerJohn Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website |
|||
Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Will's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Google Adwords Guide Emotions Drive Behavior Quick Start Guide Non Disclosure Agreement Email Overload Advice |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Diversion Blogs
Top Diversion Blogs of 2009 | |
 |
Top 50 HR Blogs 2009
Top 50 HR Blogs 2009 | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
