OK, get the pen a pad ready to take notes because I’m about to share what I consider my most powerful networking tip. You got it? OK, let’s begin.

I attend many networking events in any given year. I meet lots of people online through social media sites and through introductions by others. I’ve always felt comfortable in any networking environment, but I really love home court advantage. Home Court Advantage is when you plan your own networking event at a venue of your choice and set the tone for the event. It’s not an ego thing, but if you’re new to or shy about networking, this helps ease your fears because you have some control over the situation.

But whether you have home court advantage or not, the one thing you should have in your networking arsenal is Great Conversation. What, you thought I was going to name a particular software or book? Seriously, great conversation is the one biggest ace up your sleeve you can have at a networking event. Being a memorable person pays off in spades. If you’re a great conversationalist and you really drop some pearls of wisdom during your conversations, no matter how brief, you will make an impact on people. I guarantee you will be remembered.

When I host networking events, I like to mingle and talk with every single person at the event. Of course the smaller the event the better chance I have at reaching every person. It gets a little trickier with bigger crowds. I always step into a conversation and listen to what people are talking about. Then I try to relate a story or anecdote to the topic. Because of my many years of experience and encounters with many different types of people, I almost always have a funny, quirky or interesting story to share. And most times, people get a kick out of one of my stories. I’m a funny chick, what can I say. I inherited the gift of story telling from my Dad (thank you Daddy!). But I always make sure I follow up a story with a tip or resource that will be helpful to the group. Call it a story with a purpose!

So the next time you find yourself in the midst of a networking event, instead of trying to boast about your skills, push your business, or brag about who you know, try sharing an anecdote with people that’s related to the topic of discussion. People will appreciate it and you’ll probably find that some of the other people have experienced something similar.

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham

*This article was cross-post on the Empower Me! Blog.*